Chapter L: Military Journal for 1758 (3)

the 19. Was rainy and nothing remarkable hapned.

the 20. The things that were taken at the Light house were vendued and went very high[172] Nothing more remarkable hapned this day at night their was a regular deserted from the enimy.

[Footnote 172: When Major Tupper destroyed the
lighthouse on Nantasket point, he carried away all
the furniture and the great lamp by which it was
lighted.]

the 21. I went upon the creek guard[173] and it rained all day nothing remarkable hapned.

[Footnote 173: The creek referred to is Stony
brook, northward from Roxbury fort.]

the 22. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day.

the 23. Nothing remarkable hapned at night I went upon the piquet and nothing hapned worth a mentioning.

the 24. Nothing remarkable hapned this day onely we heard that the french were a going to join us upon conditions that we would trade with them.[174]

[Footnote 174: As early as July, 1775, Dr. Franklin
had suggested the propriety of a political
confederation of all the colonies, and the
establishment of governmental relations with
foreign powers, especially with France, which, it
was well known, hated England. In November of that
year, Benjamin Harrison, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Johnson, John Dickenson, and John Jay, were
appointed a committee to open and carry on
correspondence with foreign governments; and in
March following, Silas Deane was appointed a
special agent of Congress to the court of France.
Rumors of such intentions appear to have reached
the army, according to our Journalist, as early as
the 24th of October, 1775.]

the 25. We turned out and went to the Larm post and it was very cold and we came home and there was a high go of Drinking Brandy and several of the company were taken not well prety soon after[175] nothing more this day.

[Footnote 175: A very natural consequence.]

the 26. This morning early their was several Laidies came down from wrentham and they went to cambridg and the rest of their acts are they not writen in the Lamentations of Samuel Haws, finis.

the 27. This day I went upon fatigue and we got our Stents done about noon.

the 28. Nothing remarkable this day onely I was chose cook for our room consisting of 12 men and a hard game too.

the 29. Being Sunday the officers had hard work to get hands for meting it was so cold nothing more this day.

the 30. This day nothing remarkable hapned.

the 31. Nothing remarkable.[176]

[Footnote 176: During the whole of October, affairs
were very quiet, and no skirmish of importance
occurred. The "Essex Gazette" of the 19th said,
"Scarcely a gun has been fired for a fortnight." On
the 4th, a small fleet, under Captain Mowatt,
sailed from Boston harbor, and destroyed Falmouth
(now Portland), Maine. On the 15th, a committee
from Congress arrived, to consult with Washington
concerning the future, and a reorganization of the
army.]

NOVEMBER 1775.

the 1. Las night the fire ran over Samuel Hawes's hair and that provoket him to wrath Nothing very remarkable hapned this day that I know of.

the 2. their was Some gentlemen and Laidies came down from Wrentham and they went to cambridg.

the 3. It was a very rainy day and we went to childses and had an old fudg fairyouwell my friends.

the 4. Nothing remarkable hapned this day onely the gentry went home to Wrentham.

the 5. Being the memorial 5th of novem. the enemy fired from every Ship in the harbour nothing more remarkable this day.

the 6. Nothing remarkable hapned this day.

the 7. Their was a vendue opened att this house and their was not Less than a hundred and twenty Dollars worth of things vendued and sold at private sale and Swapt.

the 8. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that I know of.

the 9. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that is worth amentioning.[177]

[Footnote 177: On this day there was quite a severe
skirmish occurred at Lechmere's point, now
Cambridgeport.]

the 10. This day I went home upon furlow,[178] yesterday Sergent Yett went home.

[Footnote 178: That is, a written permission from
his commanding officer, to leave for a specified
time.]

the 11. I went to captain whitings and nothing remarkable hapned.

the 12. Being Sunday I went to meting Nothing more this day.

the 13. This day the Long faced People trained at Wrentham and Serg Felt went upon the piquet and fired several times upon the centrys.

the 14. This day I came down from Wrentham with Serg Felt and at night their was three men deserted from the floating Battery this day we had a Lottery and Serg Foster drawd a pair of Breeches[179] worth 5 Dollars and their was considerable other tradeing caried on at night their was 8 men more deserted.

[Footnote 179: At that time leather breeches were
much in vogue, because they were durable. The more
costly ones of buckskin were worn only by
officers.]

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapned captain Pond Listed three or four men for the next campaign[180] att night it was very cold.

[Footnote 180: Late in October a new organization
of the army took place, and enlistments for a
certain term were commenced. Hitherto there had
been great confusion in the matter. The army had
gathered around Boston from sudden impulse, and it
was continually changing. The excitement which had
brought them together had in a measure subsided,
and enlistments went on slowly. After a month's
exertions, only five thousand names were enrolled;
and Washington, lamenting the dearth of public
spirit, almost despaired. Alluding to the
selfishness exhibited in camp, he says: "Such
stock-jobbing and fertility in all low arts, to
obtain advantages of one kind and another, I never
saw before, and pray God I may never witness
again."]

the 17. Very blustering and their was a man Whipt thirty and nine Lashes for Stealing and getting Drunk and running away and afterwards he was drummed out of the camps thus he &c.

the 18. Nothing remarkable hapned this day that I know of.

the 19. This day being Sunday it was very pleasant and we had Preaching Nothing more this day.

the 20. This day nothing very remarkable at night their was a regular deserted and Swam over to Dorchester and escaped.

the 21. This day Nothing very remarkable this day the piquet was made easier by half &c. &c.

the 22. To morrow is thanksgiveing this day ended without any thing remarkable.

the 23. Being thanksgiveing I went with Serg Felt up to newtown and kept thanksgiveing their and returnd to our Barricks at night and we had not ben a bed long when our captain came to us and ordered us all to Lye upon our arms by order of General Washington Lesemo[181] of the American Army incampt at cambridg and roxbury and other places[182] nothing more this day that I know of onely 2 regulars deserted at night on cambridg side.[183]

[Footnote 181: Generalissimo.]

[Footnote 182: On the previous day, General Putnam,
with a strong detachment, broke ground at Cobble
hill, where the M'Lean Asylum now stands. The
object was to erect batteries for the purpose of
cannonading Boston. It was expected the British
troops would sally out of the city and attack them,
and that expectation caused Washington to issue the
order for _all_ the troops to be ready for action
at a moment's warning.]

[Footnote 183: Frothingham says, "Two British
sentinels came off in the night to the detachment"
of General Putnam.]

the 24. Nothing hapned very remarkable this day that I know of.

the 25. This morning Captain Pond inlisted several men for the next campaign; o you nasty Sloven how your Book Looks.[184]

[Footnote 184: This remark refers to several blots
of ink which disfigure the page of his Journal on
which he was writing.]

the 26. Being Sunday it was Stormy Nothing remarkable this day.

the 27. Nothing very remarkable hapned this day.

the 28. Nothing very Strange onely Peperiss curacle came out of Boston that old tory Dog.

the 29. Nothing remarkable onely one of our Privateers took a prize richly Laden.[185]

[Footnote 185: That was the British storeship
_Nancy_, captured off Cape Anne, and carried into
that harbor, by Captain John Manly, commander of
the American armed schooner _Lee_, one of the six
vessels fitted out at Boston under the direction of
Washington, before Congress had yet taken any
measures to establish a navy. So valuable were the
stores of the _Nancy_, that Washington supposed
General Howe would immediately make efforts to
recover her, and he had an armed force sent to Cape
Anne to secure them. There were two thousand
muskets, one hundred thousand flints, thirty
thousand round shot for one, six, and twelve
pounders, over thirty thousand musket-shot, and a
thirteen-inch brass mortar that weighed
twenty-seven hundred pounds. The arrival of these
produced great joy in the camp. Colonel Moylan,
describing the scene, says: "Old PUT [General
Putnam] was mounted on the mortar, with a bottle of
rum in his hand, standing parson to christen, while
god-father Mifflin [afterward General Mifflin] gave
it the name of _Congress_."

On the 29th of November, Washington commenced
planting a bomb-battery on Lechmere's point, with
the intention of bombarding the British works on
Bunker hill. They completed it in the course of a
few days, entirely unmolested.]

the 30. Nothing extreordenary this day that I know of.

DECEMBER.

the 1. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 2. This day I with a number of rispectable gentlemen went[186]....

[Footnote 186: The author did not expect to have
his Journal published, or he would have omitted the
entry here made. There seems nothing in it
derogatory to his character, yet he has chosen
words to express his thoughts not suited "to ears
polite."]

the 3. Being Sunday it rained nothing remarkable hapned this day.

the 4. Nothing remarkable hapnd this day at night we were ordered to Ly upon our arms.[187]

[Footnote 187: Washington was now in hourly
expectation of an attack from the British, and,
knowing his own weakness, he considered his
situation very critical. In vigilance alone seemed
a security for safety.]

the 5. Nothing Strange hapned this day.

the 6. Nothing comical this day only their was considerable of tradeing caryd on.[188]

[Footnote 188: The Yankee love of trade and barter
appears to have been very prevalent in the camp.]

the 7. This day nothing Strang.

the 8. This day I with several more inlisted for the year 1776 under captain Oliver Pond.

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 10. This day the Long faced People[189] arived here from wrentham and other places.

[Footnote 189: New militia recruits from the
country, who had never seen service.]

the 11. This day I past muster before general Spencer[190] nothing more this day.

[Footnote 190: General Joseph Spencer, of East
Haddam, Connecticut. He remained in service until
1778, when he resigned, left the army, and became a
member of Congress. He held rank next to Putnam in
the army at Boston. He died in 1789, at the age of
seventy years.]

the 12. This day it was very cold and the melitia had to mount guard that is good for them.

the 13. This day I went to cambridg and viewed the works on copple[191] hill.[192]

[Footnote 191: Cobble.]

[Footnote 192: These, it is said, were the most
perfect of any of the fortifications raised around
Boston at that time.]

the 14. This day I went to Watertown[193] with Lieutenant Bacon and a number of others in order to get some coats but we could not find any that suited us and so we returned.[194]

[Footnote 193. Seven miles northwest from Boston.
It was then the seat of the revolutionary
government in Massachusetts.]

[Footnote 194: Washington issued a notice, on the
28th of October, that tailors would be employed to
make coats for those who wished them.]

the 15. This day nothing very remarkable.

the 16. This day nothing strange at night their was an atempt made to blow up A Ship but it failed also this night we heard that Quebeck was taken.[195]

[Footnote 195: This was a mistake. On the 13th of
September, Colonel Benedict Arnold left Cambridge
with a detachment to cross the country by the way
of the Kennebec, to invade Canada and capture
Quebec. Arnold's army suffered terribly on the
march, and arrived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec,
on the 9th of November, and prepared to attack the
city. He was obliged to postpone his attack, and
Quebec never fell into the hands of the patriots.]

the 17. Being Sunday it was foul weather nothing remarkable hapned this day onely the enemy fired at our men on Lechmers[196] Point and wounded one and our men returned the fire from copple hill.

[Footnote 196: Lechmere's.]

the 18. This day the Ship moved out of the Bay and the Enemy threw Bombs from mount Hoordom[197] but did no Damage.

[Footnote 197: A nickname given to Bunker's hill.]

the 19. This day nothing remarkable hapned.

the 20. Nothing strange this day.

the 21. This day it was very cold nothing strange this day.

the 22. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 23. Nothing strange this day.

the 24. Ditto Ditto Ditto.

the 25. Good.

the 26. Very cold this day nothing remarkable this day.

the 27. Nothing remarkable to day.

the 28. Nothing strange this day.

the 29. Nothing strange this day Last Night our men made an atempt to take Bunker hill but their Scheem was frustrated &c.[198]

[Footnote 198: On the night of the 28th, an
unsuccessful attempt was made to surprise the
British outposts on Charlestown neck, and then to
attack the enemy on Bunker's hill. The Americans
started to cross from Cobble hill, on the ice. One
of the men slipped and fell when they were half way
across, and his gun went off. This alarmed the
British, and they were on their guard. It was
computed that, from the burning of Charlestown, on
the 17th of June, until Christmas day, the British
had fired more than two thousand shot and shells.
They hurled more than three hundred bombshells at
Plowed hill, and one hundred at Lechmere's point.
Gordon says that, with all this waste of metal,
they "killed only seven men on the Cambridge side,
and just a dozen on the Roxbury side."]

the 30, 31. Nothing remarkable.

JANUARY.

the 1. A Happy new year 1776 Behold the man three score and ten upon a Dying Bed he'se run his race and get no Grace and Awful Sight indeed Nothing very remarkable this 1 day of January 1776 Anoquedomina.[199]

[Footnote 199: Anno Domini.]

the 2. Nothing strange this day.

the 3. 20 men out of each Regement in Roxbury side to cut fachines[200] I believe we have it by and by.

[Footnote 200: Fascines.]

the 4. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 5-7. Nothing strange.

the 8. At night some of our brave heroick Americans went Past the Enemys Brest Work at Bunker hill and burnt several housen at the foot of Bunker hill and took 5 men and 1 woman Prisoners and came of as far as copple hill when the flames began to extend and the enemy that were in the fort perceiving a number of men gather round the fire & suposing them to be our men they kept up a bright fire for the space of near half an hour upon their own men devillightfooly[201] they[202]....

[Footnote 201: Delightfully.]

[Footnote 202: When Charlestown was burned,
fourteen houses escaped the flames. These were
occupied by the British; and, on the 8th of
January, General Putnam sent Major Knowlton
(afterward killed at Harlem), with a small party,
to set those houses on fire. The affair was
injudiciously managed, and, before all could be
fired, the flames of one alarmed the British in the
fort. They discharged cannons and small-arms in all
directions, in their confusion and affright. At
that moment a play, called "The Blockade of
Boston," written for the occasion by General
Burgoyne, was in course of performance in the city.
In the midst of the scene in which Washington was
burlesqued, a sergeant dashed into the theatre and
exclaimed, "The Yankees are attacking Bunker's
hill!" The audience thought it was part of the
play, until General Howe said, "Officers, to your
alarm-posts!" Then women shrieked and fainted, and
the people rushed to the streets in great
confusion.]

the 9. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 10. Nothing very remarkable this day it was very cold.

the 11. Nothing very remarkable this day.

the 12. All furlows stopt this day.

the 13. Nothing strange this day.

the 14. Being Sunday nothing remarkable this day.

the 15. This day we heard that the regulars had taken Providence and burnt all the housen except two.[203]

[Footnote 203: Sir James Wallace commanded a small
British flotilla in Narraganset bay, during the
summer and autumn of 1775. He was really a
commissioned pirate, for he burnt and plundered
dwellings, and stores, and plantations, wherever he
pleased. The fact above alluded to was the plunder
and destruction of the houses on the beautiful
island of Providence (not the town of Providence)
by that marauder, at the close of November, 1775.
He also desolated Connanicut island, opposite
Newport; and every American vessel that entered
that harbor was seized and sent to Boston.]

the 16. Nothing remarkable hapened this day at night we were all ordered to Ly upon our arms.

the 17. This day we had the disagreeable news that our men were defeated that went to Quebeck and that General montgomery and colonel Arnold were either killed or taken Prisoners but we Pray God thy news may prove falce[204] at night it was thought their was a spy out from Boston and our centrys fired at him but we dont know the Sertainty of it cold weather for the Season.

[Footnote 204: Arnold, with only seven hundred men,
appeared before Quebec on the 18th of November, and
demanded its surrender. He was soon compelled to
retire, and, marching up the St. Lawrence twenty
miles, he there met, in December, General
Montgomery, with a small force, descending from
Montreal. They marched against Quebec, and, early
in the morning of the 31st of December, proceeded
to assail the city at three distinct points.
Montgomery was killed, Morgan and many of the
Americans were made prisoners, and Arnold, who was
severely wounded, retired to Sillery, three miles
above Quebec.]

the 18. Nothing strange this day.

the 19. This day we heard that our men had taken a Ship Loaded with Gunpowder the truth of it we have not yet Learned but we hope it will prove true.[205]

[Footnote 205: Several of the prizes captured by
Manly and others contained powder and arms; and
late in December, Colonel (afterward General) Knox
arrived from Ticonderoga with forty-two sled-loads
of cannons, mortars, lead, balls, flints, &c. By
the close of January, powder became quite plentiful
in the American camp.]

the 20. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 21. Ditto.

the 22. Nothing strange.

the 23. Nothing remarkable.

the 24. This day capt Pond came from Wrentham Nothing remarkable.

the 25. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 26. Nothing very remarkable.

the 27. Nothing remarkable this day.

the 28. Nothing remarkable.

the 29. This day we moved to Dorchester into the widow Birds house.

the 30. Nothing strange this day.

the 31. Ditto.

FEBRUARY.

the 1. This day nothing remarkable.

the 2. Ditto.

the 3. Nothing Remarkable this day.

the 4. Ditto.

the 5. The Lobsters came out almost to copple hill and took 3 cows and killed them and were fired upon from copple hill and they were obligd to mak of Leaving their Booty behind them.

the 6. The melitious men[206] marched from Wrentham and arived in camp at Dorchester.

[Footnote 206: Militia-men.]

the 7. Nothing very remarkable this day.

the 8. Their was a number of our men went a Scating on the Bay near Bosston common and the Enemy fired upwards of a hundred small arms that did no damage.

the 9. Nothing very remarkable at night their was thre of our Amarican Boys made their escape from the Enemy in Boston and were taken up by our men who were Patroling on Dorchester Point to and they brought of things to considerable value.

the 10. Nothing Strange this day.[207]

[Footnote 207: Here the Journal ends abruptly, and
we have no clew to the writer afterward. As he had
enlisted for the campaign of 1776, he doubtless
remained with the army until after the expulsion of
the British from Boston, in March following, unless
he was killed in some of the skirmishes that
frequently occurred, or was obliged to leave the
army on account of sickness. Whatever was his fate,
the veil of oblivion is drawn over it, for he was
one of the thousands who with warm hearts and stout
hands struggled in the field for the liberties of
their country, lie in unhonored graves, and have
had no biographers. If he lived until the conflict
ended, and died in his native town, no doubt his
grave is in the old churchyard at Wrentham. His
family was among the earliest settlers there, for
Daniel Haws was a resident of the village when it
was burnt, in the time of King Philip's war, almost
two hundred years ago; and on a plain slab in that
old burial-place is the name of Ebenezer Haws, who
died in 1812, at the age of ninety-one years.]

SUPPLEMENT, CONTAINING OFFICIAL PAPERS ON THE SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, AND A LIST OF REVOLUTIONARY ARTICLES IN THE POUGHKEEPSIE MUSEUM.

SUPPLEMENT.

OFFICIAL PAPERS CONCERNING THE SKIRMISHES AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.

In the preceding Journal of a Soldier, in 1775, his narrative commences on the day of the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, the opening conflicts of the Revolution. Some official matters relating to those events, which are inaccessible to the general reading-public, will doubtless be acceptable, as they certainly are appropriate, in this connection.

The skirmishes occurred on the 19th of April, 1775. On the 22d, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts assembled, and, deeming it important to have the whole truth known, appointed a committee to take depositions in relation to the transactions of the British troops in their route to and from Concord. Another committee was appointed the following day, consisting of Dr. Church, Elbridge Gerry, and Thomas Cushing, to draw up a narrative of the massacre. The committee to take depositions held their sessions at Concord and Lexington, on the 23d and 25th of April. Feeling it to be expedient to send an account immediately to England, a committee, consisting of Dr. Warren, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Gardiner, and Colonel Stone, was chosen to prepare a letter to Dr. Franklin, the colonial agent in London. They reported a letter, and also an "Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain," on the same day. Captain Richard Derby, of Salem, was employed to proceed immediately with the despatches. He placed them in the hands of Doctor Franklin on the 29th of May, and on the following day the address was printed and circulated. It gave the first intelligence of the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, to the British public.

The following, copied from the Journals of the Continental Congress, are the several papers referred to:--

"_To the Hon. Benjamin Franklin, Esq., at London._
"IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, WATERTOWN, _April 26, 1775_.

"SIR: From the entire confidence we repose in your faithfulness
and abilities, we consider it the happiness of this colony that
the important trust of agency for it, in this day of unequalled
distress, is devolved on your hands, and we doubt not your
attachment to the cause and liberties of mankind will make every
possible exertion in our behalf a pleasure to you; although our
circumstances will compel us often to interrupt your repose, by
matters that will surely give you pain. A singular instance
hereof is the occasion of the present letter. The contents of
this packet will be our apology for troubling you with it.

"From these you will see how, and by whom, we are at last plunged
into the horrors of a most unnatural war.

"Our enemies, we are told, have despatched to Great Britain a
fallacious account of the tragedy they have begun; to prevent the
operation of which to the public injury, we have engaged the
vessel that conveys this to you, as a packet in the service of
this colony, and we request your assistance in supplying Captain
Derby, who commands her, with such necessaries as he shall want,
on the credit of your constituents in Massachusetts Bay.

"But we most ardently wish that the several papers herewith
enclosed may be immediately printed and dispersed through every
town in England, and especially communicated to the lord-mayor,
aldermen, and council, of the city of London, that they may take
such order thereon as they may think proper. And we are confident
your fidelity will make such improvement of them as shall
convince all, who are not determined to be in everlasting
blindness, that it is the united efforts of both Englands that
can save either: but that whatever price our brethren in the one
may be pleased to put on their constitutional liberties, we are
authorized to assure you that the inhabitants of the other, with
the greatest unanimity, are inflexibly resolved to sell theirs
only at the price of their lives.

"Signed by order of the Provincial Congress,
"JOSEPH WARREN, _President, P. T._

"A true copy from the original minutes,
"SAMUEL FREEMAN, _Sec. P. T._"

The depositions relative to the commencement of hostilities are as follows:--

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah Sanderson, all of
lawful age, and of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and
colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, do testify and
declare that, on the evening of the 18th of April, instant, being
on the road between Concord and Lexington, and all of us mounted
on horses, we were, about ten of the clock, suddenly surprised by
nine persons, whom we took to be regular officers, who rode up to
us, mounted and armed, each having a pistol in his hand, and,
after putting pistols to our breasts, and seizing the bridles of
our horses, they swore, if we stirred another step, we should be
all dead men, upon which we surrendered ourselves. They detained
us until two o'clock the next morning, in which time they
searched and greatly abused us, having first inquired about the
magazine at Concord, whether any guards were posted there, and
whether the bridges were up, and said four or five regiments of
regulars would be in possession of the stores soon. They then
brought us back to Lexington, cut the horses' bridles and
girths, turned them loose, and then left us.

"SOLOMON BROWN,
"JONATHAN LORING, ELIJAH SANDERSON."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, Elijah Sanderson, above named, do further testify and
declare, that I was on Lexington common, the morning of the 19th
of April aforesaid, having been dismissed by the officers above
mentioned, and saw a large body of regular troops advancing
toward Lexington company, many of whom were then dispersing. I
heard one of the regulars, whom I took to be an officer, say,
"Damn them, we will have them;" and immediately the regulars
shouted aloud, run and fired upon the Lexington company, which
did not fire a gun before the regulars discharged on them. Eight
of the Lexington company were killed while they were dispersing,
and at a considerable distance from each other, and many wounded;
and, although a spectator, I narrowly escaped with my life.

"ELIJAH SANDERSON."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Thomas Rice Willard, of lawful age, do testify and declare
that, being in the house of Daniel Harrington, of said Lexington,
on the 19th instant, in the morning, about half an hour before
sunrise, looked out at the window of said house, and saw (as I
suppose) about four hundred regulars in one body, coming up the
road, and marched toward the north part of the common, back of
the meeting-house of said Lexington; and as soon as said regulars
were against the east end of the meeting-house, the commanding
officer said something, what I know not, but upon that the
regulars ran till they came within about eight or nine rods of
about a hundred of the militia of Lexington, who were collected
on said common, at which time the militia of Lexington dispersed.
Then the officers made a huzza, and the private soldiers
succeeded them: directly after this, an officer rode before the
regulars to the other side of the body, and hallooed after the
militia of said Lexington, and said, "Lay down your arms, damn
you, why don't you lay down your arms?"--and that there was not a
gun fired till the militia of Lexington were dispersed. And
further saith not.

"THOMAS RICE WILLARD."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"Simon Winship, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and
province of Massachusetts Bay, New England, being of lawful age,
testifieth and saith, that on the 19th April instant, about four
o'clock in the morning, as he was passing the public road in said
Lexington, peaceably and unarmed, about two miles and a half
distant from the meeting-house in said Lexington, he was met by a
body of the king's regular troops, and being stopped by some
officers of said troops, was commanded to dismount. Upon asking
why he must dismount, he was obliged by force to quit his horse,
and ordered to march in the midst of the body; and, being
examined whether he had been warning the minute-men, he answered,
'No, but had been out, and was then returning to his father's.'
Said Winship farther testifies that he marched with said troops,
till he came within about half a quarter of a mile of said
meeting-house, where an officer commanded the troops to halt, and
then to prime and load: this being done, the said troops marched
on till they came within a few rods of Captain Parker's company,
who were partly collected on the place of parade, when said
Winship observed an officer at the head of said troops,
flourishing his sword, and with a loud voice giving the word,
'Fire! fire!' which was instantly followed by a discharge of arms
from said regular troops; and said Winship is positive, and in
the most solemn manner declares, that there was no discharge of
arms on either side, till the word 'Fire' was given by the said
officer as above.

"SIMON WINSHIP."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, John Parker, of lawful age, and commander of the militia in
Lexington, do testify and declare that, on the 19th instant, in
the morning, about one of the clock, being informed that there
were a number of regula-officers riding up and down the road,
stopping and insulting people as they passed the road; and also
was informed that a number of regular troops were on their march
from Boston, in order to take the province stores at Concord,
ordered our militia to meet on the common in said Lexington, to
consult what to do, and concluded not to be discovered, nor
meddle or make with said regular troops (if they should
approach), unless they should insult or molest us; and, upon
their sudden approach, I immediately ordered our militia to
disperse, and not to fire. Immediately said troops made their
appearance, and rushed furiously, fired upon, and killed eight of
our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from us.

"JOHN PARKER."

"LEXINGTON, _April 24, 1775_.

"I, John Robins, being of lawful age, do testify and say that, on
the 19th instant, the company under the command of Captain John
Parker, being drawn up (some time before sunrise) on the green or
common, and I being in the front rank, there suddenly appeared a
number of the king's troops, about a thousand, as I thought, at
the distance of about sixty or seventy yards from us, huzzaing,
and on a quick pace toward us, with three officers in their front
on horseback, and on full gallop toward us, the foremost of which
cried, 'Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels!' upon which
said company dispersing, the foremost of the three officers
ordered their men, saying, 'Fire, by God! fire!' at which moment
we received a very heavy and close fire from them; at which
instant, being wounded, I fell, and several of our men were shot
dead by me. Captain Parker's men, I believe, had not then fired
a gun. And further the deponent saith not.

"JOHN ROBINS."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Benjamin Tidd, of Lexington, and Joseph Abbot, of Lincoln,
in the county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, of lawful age, do testify and declare that, on the
morning of the 19th of April instant, about five o'clock, being
on Lexington common, and mounted on horses, we saw a body of
regular troops marching up to the Lexington company, which was
then dispersing. Soon after, the regulars fired, first, a few
guns, which we took to be pistols from some of the regulars who
were mounted on horses, and then the said regulars fired a volley
or two before any guns were fired by the Lexington company; our
horses immediately started, and we rode off. And further say not.

"BENJAMIN TIDD, JOSEPH ABBOT."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Nathaniel Mullokin, Philip Russell, Moses Harrington, jun.,
Thomas and Daniel Harrington, William Grimes, William Tidd, Isaac
Hastings, Jonas Stone, jun., James Wyman, Thaddeus Harrington,
John Chandler, Joshua Reed, jun., Joseph Simonds, Phineas Smith,
John Chandler, jun., Reuben Cock, Joel Viles, Nathan Reed, Samuel
Tidd, Benjamin Lock, Thomas Winship, Simeon Snow, John Smith,
Moses Harrington the 3d, Joshua Reed, Ebenezer Parker, John
Harrington, Enoch Willington, John Hornier, Isaac Green, Phineas
Stearns, Isaac Durant, and Thomas Headley, jun., all of lawful
age, and inhabitants of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex,
and colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, do testify
and declare, that, on the 19th of April instant, about one or two
o'clock in the morning, being informed that several officers of
the regulars had, the evening before, been riding up and down the
road, and had detained and insulted the inhabitants passing the
same; and also understanding that a body of regulars were
marching from Boston toward Concord, with intent (as it was
supposed) to take the stores, belonging to the colony, in that
town, we were alarmed, and having met at the place of our
company's parade, were dismissed by our captain, John Parker, for
the present, with orders to be ready to attend at the beat of the
drum. We further testify and declare, that, about five o'clock in
the morning, hearing our drum beat, we proceeded toward the
parade, and soon found that a large body of troops were marching
toward us. Some of our company were coming up to the parade, and
others had reached it, at which time the company began to
disperse. While our backs were turned on the troops, we were
fired on by them, and a number of our men were instantly killed
and wounded. Not a gun was fired by any person in our company on
the regulars, to our knowledge, before they fired on us, and
they continued firing until we had all made our escape.

"Signed by each of the above deponents,"

"LEXINGTON, _25th of April, 1775_.

"We, Nathaniel Parkhurst, Jonas Parker, John Munroe, jun., John
Winship, Solomon Pierce, John Muzzy, Abner Meeds, John Bridge,
jun., Ebenezer Bowman, William Munroe the 3d, Micah Hager, Samuel
Saunderson, Samuel Hastings, and James Brown, of Lexington, in
the county of Middlesex, and colony of the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, and all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on
the morning of the 19th of April instant, about one or two
o'clock, being informed that a number of regular officers had
been riding up and down the road the evening and night preceding,
and that some of the inhabitants, as they were passing, had been
insulted by the officers, and stopped by them; and being also
informed that the regular troops were on their march from Boston,
in order (as it was said) to take the colony stores then
deposited at Concord, we met on the parade of our company in this
town. After the company had collected, we were ordered by Captain
Parker (who commanded us) to disperse for the present, and to be
ready to attend the beat of the drum; and accordingly the company
went into houses near the place of parade. We further testify and
say, that, about five o'clock in the morning, we attended the
beat of our drum, and were formed on the parade; we were faced
toward the regulars then marching up to us, and some of our
company were coming to the parade with their backs toward the
troops, and others, on the parade, began to disperse, when the
regulars fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of
our company on them. They killed eight of our company, and
wounded several, and continued their fire until we had all made
our escape.

"Signed by each of the deponents."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, Timothy Smith, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, and
colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, being of lawful age,
do testify and declare, that, on the morning of the 19th of April
instant, being on Lexington common, as a spectator, I saw a large
body of regular troops marching up toward the Lexington company,
then dispersing, and likewise saw the regular troops fire on the
Lexington company, before the latter fired a gun. I immediately
ran, and a volley was discharged at me, which put me in imminent
danger of losing my life. I soon returned to the common, and saw
eight of the Lexington men who were killed, and lay bleeding at a
considerable distance from each other; and several were wounded.
And further saith not.

"TIMOTHY SMITH."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"We, Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lexington, in the
county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New
England, and of lawful age, do testify and declare, that, on the
morning of the 19th of April, being on Lexington commons, as
spectators, we saw a large body of regular troops marching up
toward the Lexington company; and some of the regulars, on
horses, whom we took to be officers, fired a pistol or two on the
Lexington company, which was then dispersing. These were the
first guns that were fired, and they were immediately followed by
several volleys from the regulars, by which eight men belonging
to said company were killed, and several wounded.

"LEVI HARRINGTON, LEVI MEAD."

"LEXINGTON, _April 25, 1775_.

"I, William Draper, of lawful age, and an inhabitant of Colrain,
in the county of Hampshire, and colony of Massachusetts Bay, in
New England, do testify and declare, that, being on the parade of
said Lexington, April 19th instant, about half an hour before
sunrise, the king's regular troops appeared at the meeting-house
of Lexington. Captain Parker's company, who were drawn up back of
said meeting-house on the parade, turned from said troops, making
their escape, by dispersing. In the meantime, the regular troops
made a huzza, and ran toward Captain Parker's company, who were
dispersing; and, immediately after the huzza was made, the
commanding officer of said troops (as I took him) gave the
command to the said troops--"Fire! fire! damn you, fire!"--and
immediately they fired, before any of Captain Parker's company
fired, I then being within three or four rods of said regular
troops. And further say not.

"WILLIAM DRAPER."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Thomas Fessenden, of lawful age, testify and declare, that,
being in a pasture near the meeting-house, at said Lexington, on
Wednesday last, at about half an hour before sunrise, I saw a
number of regular troops pass speedily by said meeting-house, on
their way toward a company of militia of said Lexington, who were
assembled to the number of about one hundred in a company, at the
distance of eighteen or twenty rods from said meeting-house; and
after they had passed by said meeting-house, I saw three
officers, on horseback, advance to the front of said regulars,
when one of them, being within six rods of the said militia,
cried out, "Disperse, you rebels, immediately!" on which he
brandished his sword over his head three times: meanwhile, the
second officer, who was about two rods behind him, fired a
pistol, pointed at said militia, and the regulars kept huzzaing
till he had finished brandishing his sword; and when he had thus
finished brandishing his sword, he pointed it down toward said
militia, and immediately on which the said regulars fired a
volley at the militia, and then I ran off as fast as I could,
while they continued firing till I got out of their reach. I
further testify, that, as soon as ever the officer cried,
"Disperse, you rebels," the said company of militia dispersed
every way, as fast as they could; and, while they were
dispersing, the regulars kept firing at them incessantly. And
further saith not.

"THOMAS FESSENDEN."

"LINCOLN, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, John Bateman, belonging to the fifty-second regiment,
commanded by Colonel Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the 19th day
of April instant, was in the party marching to Concord, being at
Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, being nigh the
meeting-house in said Lexington, there was a small party of men
gathered together at that place, when our said troops marched by;
and I testify and declare that I heard the word of command given
to the troops to fire, and some of said troops did fire, and I
saw one of said small party lay dead on the ground nigh said
meeting-house; and I testify that I never heard any of the
inhabitants so much as fire one gun on said troops.

"JOHN BATEMAN."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, John Hoar, John Whithead, Abraham Garfield, Benjamin Munroe,
Isaac Parks, William Hosmer, John Adams, Gregory Stone, all of
Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay, all of
lawful age, do testify and say that, on Wednesday last, we were
assembled at Concord, in the morning of said day, in consequence
of information received that a brigade of regular troops were on
their march to the said town of Concord, who had killed six men
at the town of Lexington. About an hour afterward, we saw them
approaching, to the number, as we apprehended, of about twelve
hundred, on which we retreated to a hill about eighty rods back,
and the said troops then took possession of the hill where we
were first posted. Presently after this we saw the troops moving
toward the north bridge, about one mile from the said Concord
meeting-house. We then immediately went before them and passed
the bridge just before a party of them, to the number of about
two hundred, arrived. They there left about one half of their two
hundred at the bridge, and proceeded with the rest toward Colonel
Barrett's, about two miles from the said bridge. We then, seeing
several fires in the town, thought the houses in Concord were in
danger, and marched toward the said bridge; and the troops that
were stationed there, observing our approach, marched back over
the bridge, and then took up some of the planks. We then hastened
our march toward the bridge, and, when we had got near the
bridge, they fired on our men--first three guns, one after the
other, and then a considerable number more; and then, and not
before (having orders from our commanding officers not to fire
till we were fired upon), we fired upon the regulars, and they
retreated. On their retreat through the town of Lexington to
Charlestown, they ravaged and destroyed private property, and
burnt three houses, one barn, and one shop.

"Signed by each of the above deponents."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, Nathan Barret, captain; Jonathan Farrar, Joseph Butler, and
Francis Wheeler, lieutenants; John Barret, ensign; John Brown,
Silas Walker, Ephraim Melvin, Nathan Buttrick, Stephen Hosmer,
jun., Samuel Barret, Thomas Jones, Joseph Chandler, Peter
Wheeler, Nathan Pierce, and Edward Richardson, all of Concord, in
the county of Middlesex, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, of
lawful age, testify and declare, that, on Wednesday, the 19th
instant, about an hour after sunrise, we assembled on a hill near
the meeting-house in Concord aforesaid, in consequence of an
information that a number of regular troops had killed six of our
countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march to said Concord;
and, about an hour afterward, we saw them approaching, to the
number, as we imagine, of about twelve hundred; on which we
retreated to a hill about eighty rods back, and the aforesaid
troops then took possession of a hill where we were first posted.
Presently after this, we saw them moving toward the north bridge,
about one mile from said meeting-house; we then immediately went
before them, and passed the bridge just before a party of them,
to the number of about two hundred, arrived. They there left
about one half of these two hundred at the bridge, and proceeded
with the rest toward Colonel Barret's, about two miles from the
said bridge. We then, seeing several fires in the town thought
our houses were in danger, and immediately marched back toward
said bridge, and the troops who were stationed there, observing
our approach, marched back over the bridge, and then took up some
of the planks. We then hastened our steps toward the bridge, and
when we had got near the bridge, they fired on our men--first
three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number
more; upon which, and not before (having orders from our
commanding officer not to fire till we were fired upon), we fired
upon the regulars, and they retreated. At Concord, and on their
retreat through Lexington, they plundered many houses, burnt
three at Lexington, together with a shop and barn, and committed
damage, more or less, to almost every house from Concord to
Charlestown.

"Signed by the above deponents."

"We, Joseph Butler and Ephraim Melvin, do testify and declare,
that, when the regular troops fired upon our people at the north
bridge, in Concord, as related in the foregoing depositions, they
shot one, and we believe two, of our people, before we fired a
single gun at them.

"JOSEPH BUTLER, EPHRAIM MELVIN.
"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_."

"CONCORD, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, Timothy Minot, jun., of Concord, on the 19th day of this
instant, April, after that I had heard of the regular troops
firing upon Lexington men, and fearing that hostilities might be
committed at Concord, thought it my incumbent duty to secure my
family. After I had secured my family, some time after that,
returning toward my own dwelling, and finding that the bridge on
the north part of said Concord was guarded by regular troops,
being a spectator of what had happened at said bridge, declare
that the regular troops stationed on said bridge, after they saw
the men that were collected on the westerly side of said bridge,
marched toward said bridge; then the troops returned toward the
easterly side of said bridge, and formed themselves, as I
thought, for regular fight: after that they fired one gun, then
two or three more, before the men that were stationed on the
westerly part of said bridge fired upon them.

"TIMOTHY MINOT, JUN."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, James Barret, of Concord, colonel of a regiment of militia,
in the county of Middlesex, do testify and say that, on Wednesday
morning last, about daybreak, I was informed of the approach of a
number of the regular troops to the town of Concord, where were
some magazines belonging to this province, when there was
assembled some of the militia of this and the neighboring towns,
I ordered them to march to the north bridge (so called), which
they had passed and were taking up. I ordered said militia to
march to said bridge and pass the same, but not to fire on the
king's troops unless they were first fired upon. We advanced near
said bridge, when the said troops fired upon our militia, and
killed two men dead on the spot, and wounded several others,
which was the first firing of guns in the town of Concord. My
detachment then returned the fire, which killed and wounded
several of the king's troops.

"JAMES BARRET."

"LEXINGTON, _April 23, 1775_.

"We, Bradbury Robinson, Samuel Spring, Thaddeus Bancroft, all of
Concord, and James Adams, of Lexington, all in the county of
Middlesex, all of lawful age, do testify and say, that, on
Wednesday morning last, near ten of the clock, we saw near one
hundred of the regular troops, being in the town of Concord, at
the north bridge in said town (so called); and having passed the
same, they were taking up said bridge, when about three hundred
of our militia were advancing toward said bridge, in order to
pass said bridge, when, without saying anything to us, they
discharged a number of guns on us, which killed two men dead on
the spot, and wounded several others; when we returned the fire
on them, which killed two of them, and wounded several, which was
the beginning of hostilities in the town of Concord.

"BRADBURY ROBINSON, THADDEUS BANCROFT,
"SAMUEL SPRING, JAMES ADAMS."

"WORCESTER, _April 26, 1775_.

"Hannah Bradish, of that part of Cambridge called Menotomy, and
daughter of Timothy Paine, of Worcester, in the county of
Worcester, Esq., of lawful age, testifies and says, that, about
five o'clock on Wednesday last, afternoon, being in her
bedchamber, with her infant child, about eight days old, she was
surprised by the firing of the king's troops and our people, on
their return from Concord. She being weak and unable to go out of
her house, in order to secure herself and family, they all
retired into the kitchen, in the back part of the house. She soon
found the house surrounded with the king's troops; that upon
observation made, at least seventy bullets were shot into the
front part of the house; several bullets lodged in the kitchen
where she was, and one passed through an easy-chair she had just
gone from. The door of the front part of the house was broke
open; she did not see any soldiers in the house, but supposed, by
the noise, they were in the front. After the troops had gone off,
she missed the following things, which, she verily believes, were
taken out of the house by the king's troops, viz., one rich
brocade gown, called a negligee, one lutestring gown, one white
quilt, one pair of brocade shoes, three shifts, eight white
aprons, three caps, one case of ivory knives and forks, and
several other small articles.

"HANNAH BRADISH."

PROVINCE OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS BAY, WORCESTER, SS., _April 26, 1775_.

"Mrs. Hannah Bradish, the above deponent, maketh oath before us,
the subscribers, two of his majesty's justices of the peace for
the county of Worcester, and of the quorum, that the above
deposition, according to her best recollection, is the truth.
Which deposition is taken in _perpetuam rei memoriam_.

"THOMAS STEEL,
"TIMOTHY PAINE."

"CONCORD, _April 23, 1775_.

"I, James Marr, of lawful age, testify and say, that, in the
evening of the 18th instant, I received orders from George
Hutchinson, adjutant of the fourth regiment of the regular troops
stationed at Boston, to prepare and march: to which orders I
attended, and marched to Concord, where I was ordered by an
officer with about one hundred men to guard a certain bridge
there. While attending that service, a number of people came
along, in order, as I suppose, to cross said bridge, at which
time a number of the regular troops first fired upon them.

"JAMES MARR."

"MEDFORD, _April 25, 1775_.