May I. brothers, for the important expedition, while the dangers of it were overlooked or difregarded. After a few days continuance before Boston, great numbers returned home; fome to follow their bufinefs, and others to procure neceffaries for the time they had inlifted, or meant to inlift for. During the interval between this return, and the provincials reforting afresh to the place of rendezvous, the land entrance into and out of the town by the neck, was next to unguarded. Not more than between fix and feven hundred men, under colonel Lemuel Robinson of Dorchefter, were engaged in defending fo important a pass, for several days together. For nine days and nights the colonel never fhifted his clothes, nor lay down to fleep; as he had the whole duty upon him even down to the adjutant, and as there was no officer of the day to affift. The officers, in genéral, had left the camp, in order to raise the wanted number of The colonel was obliged therefore, for the time mentioned, to patrole the guards every night, which gave him a round of nine miles to traverse. men. The Maffachusetts congrefs allotted to the different towns, the five thousand poor expected out of Boston. Rhode Island and Connecticut had made paper money, with which to furnish a plentiful substitute for cash, and to answer present exigencies. The men repairing from thefe colonies, for the defence of the Maffachusetts, were fupplied with this money; the Maffachusetts therefore refolved, that it fhould pats in all payments. The general affembly of Connecticut appointed Dr. Johnfon, and Oliver Wolcot efq. a committee from their body, to wait upon general Gage, and defired the governor to write in their name to the general, relative to the fituation of public affairs, and the late unfortunate tranfactions in the Maffachusetts. He wrote on the twenty-eighth of April; and the committee repaired to Bofton with the letter. Both the provincial congress and the committee of fafety were greatly alarmed at the tranfaction. The firft wrote to the delegates, whom they had fent to the colony, representing to them the fatal confequences that might follow, upon any one colony's undertaking to negotiate feparately, either with parliament, miniftry, or their agent here. The last wrote to the colony itself, entreating it to afford immediately all poffible aid. Governor Trumbull acquainted them, in his anfwer of May the 4th, that they need not fear their firmnefs, deliberation and unanimity, to purfue measures which may appear best for common defence and safety; and that Connecticut will be cautious of trusting promises, which it may be in the power of any to evade. 24 On the fame day, on which general Gage fent a fen- 3. fible and refpectful answer to governor Trumbull, the Maffachusetts congrefs empowered the receiver general to borrow 75,000l. fterling upon notes, bearing an intereft of fix per cent. that fo they might fupport their forces; they alfo forwarded dispatches to the general con+ grefs, containing accounts of their proceedings. In their letter they mentioned, "The fudden exigency of our public affairs, precluded the poffibility of waiting for your direction in these important meafures, more especially as a confiderable reinforcement from Great Britain is daily expected in this colony, and we are now reduced to the fad alternative of defending ourselves by arms, or fubmitting to be flaughtered." They modeftly 5. 9. fuggefted the neceffity of a powerful army on the fide of America. They took notice, that the inhabitants of many of their fea-ports, had removed, and were removing their families and effects, to avoid destruction from the ships of war; and expreffed their confidence in the wifdom and ability of the continent to fupport them, fo far as it fhould appear neceffary for the common cause of the American colonies. The committee of fafety wrote to the governor and company of Connecticut, moft earnestly preffing them to fend immediately three or four thousand men, that so an important poft might be fecured, which otherwise the enemy would be likely to poffefs themselves of, as foon as their reinforcement arrived. The troops were defired to be forwarded in companies as fast as they could be got ready. They fent alfo to Rhode Island, and urged their marching a body of troops to affift on the like occafion. They proceeded to refolve, "That` the public good requires that government in full form ought to be taken up immediately." Advice was received, that a number of tranfports with troops were just arrived at Bofton from England. The provincial congrefs refolved, "That general Gage has, by the late tranfactions, and many other means, utterly difqualified himfelf from ferving this coJony as a governor, or in any other capacity; and that therefore no obedience is in future due to him; but that on the contrary, he ought to be confidered and guarded againit, as an unnatural and inveterate enemy to the country." The committee of fafety ordered the commanding offices of ten neighbouring towns, to march one half of the militia, and all the minute men under their command, forthwith to Roxbury, that fo the British troops might not come and poffefs themselves of that poft. Before it was properly ftrengthened, general Gage entertained fuch defign. General Thomas who commands there, gained information of what was intended, on the day it was to be executed. His whole force confifted only of feven hundred men. The post comprehended a large broad high hill. A road leads to the top of it, vifible in fome parts, to perfons at the entrance into Bofton; it paffes over the hill and defcends into a hollow, from whence you can turn off, and paffing circuitously enter again upon the faid road. The general took advantage of this circumftance, and continued marching his feven hundred men round and round the hill, by which he multiplied their appearance, to any one who was reconnoitring them at Boston. The drefs of the militia was extremely various, and confifted of their common clothing, which prevented the dif covery of a deception, that might otherwife have been foon detected, had they worn a uniform and poffeffed regimental enfigns. This warlike imposition most probably prevented general Gage's attacking and carrying the poft, by the poffeffion of which he would have had it in his power to direct his march to any part of the country he pleased. The colonels of the feveral regiments were ordered to repair immediately to Cambridge, with the men they had inlifted; and part of the cannon and stores to be removed to fome diftance for fecurity; and breaft works to be erected at different places, to prevent the enemy's paffing into the country from Bofton neck, and to annoy them if they croffed the river 15. and advanced through Charlestown, or if they attempted going by water to Medford. The Maffachusetts congrefs concluded on difarming the difaffected inhabitants; and that no perfon should move with his effects out of the colony, unless leave was granted. They refolved upon a letter to the eastern tribe of Indians, to fecure their friendship, and engage them on the fide of the colonies, and proposed to raise a company of them to serve in the war. Four days after, the committee of safety voted, that captain John Lane have inlifting papers for raifing fuch company. The provincials reprobate in the bitterest terms, the idea of the Indians being employed by the miniftry against themfelves; fo that there is a feeming inconfiftency in their attempting to engage them against the British troops. But let it be remembered, that the Indians will probably take part with the one fide or the other; for through a restlefs warlike temper, they are not in common difpofed to obferve a neutrality; and that there is a wide difference between employing them againft armed foldiers, and letting them loofe upon defenceless fettlers, men, women and children. Skirmishes were occafioned at different times and places, by the attempts of each party to carry off stock from the small islands, with which the bay of Bofton is agreeably interfperfed, and afforded the mixt fpectacle of fhips boats and men engaged by land These small engagements were not The advantage was and water. trifling in their confequences. |