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and hedges, and other coverts, which greatly endangered, and alarmed the officers, who were more immediately the objects of their revenge, and victims of their vengeance. Alarmed for his safety, Major Pitcairn (whose pistol burnt the first powder in this awful, this eventful struggle) dismounted; led his division on foot, and suffered his horse to fall into the hands of the provincials, together with his pistols, in their holsters. The enemy committed many ravages, and barbarities on their retreat.

To check these depredations, even the Reverend Mr. Payson of Chelsea, headed a small detachment of militia, and killed, wounded, or captured a small detachment of the British, and recovered the supplies they were carrying to the retreating troops.

About sunset, the fugitives secured their retreat over Charlestown neck, and arrived at Bunker's Hill, harassed, and worn down with the fatigues, and distresses of the day; (having performed a march of 30 or 40 miles ;) where they passed the night. The next morning, they made good their retreat to Boston. Colouel Smith, who had the honor to receive a wound in the expedition, had also the honor to report to his Excellency General Gage, that in obedience to his orders, he had marched to Concord, and destroyed such stores as were to be found; engaged the Yankees in several skirmishes, in which they had suffered severely; but being overpowered by numbers, had been able to make good his retreat back to Boston, with the loss of only 65 killed, 180 wounded, and 158 made prisoners.

As soon as regular returns could be made of the loss of the provincials, it was found to amount to 50 killed, 34 wounded, and 4 missing; total 88; which deducted from 273, left a balance of success in favour of the provincials of 185; besides the exulting triumph, of pursuing, and harassing the fugitives, about 20 miles, and thus driving these marauders into close quarters. This was a glorious

day for America, horrible as was the idea that Britain had kindled a civil war with her American colonies, and distressing as was the scene that those fields which their fathers had consecrated to the religion of the Prince of Peace, and which they had protected about 150 years, with the choicest blood, and treasure, were now stained with the blood of their sons, by the murderous hands of those very Britons, whose fathers had driven out the pilgrims by their bloody, and cruel persecutions, from their own dear native land, to dwell with the wild beast, and savage of the forest, and plant the Church of the Puritans, in the wilderness of the west. The news of this conflict flashed like lightning through the country, and kindled a spirit of revenge in these hardy sous of liberty, who rushed to the conflict in their rustic dresses, regardless of their fields and their fire sides, to take vengeance on the insulting foe, who had dared to open the conflict by shedding the first blood in the fields of Lexington. The heroes of the old war put themselves at the head of their injured brethren, and enrolled themselves in the ranks of their country, to wipe out the stain, by the blood of the British. All hopes of peace and reconciliation had now fled forever; Massachusettes had now become the theatre of civil war, and the colonies became alive to the contest, from Georgia to Maine.*

General Ward, an old experienced officer, took the command, (agreeable to his appointment,) of the troops at Cambridge, as they were collecting, from the neigh

*The following heroes, who suffered in the glorious conflict of the ever memorable 19th of April, 1775, ought to be enrolled in the temple of immortal fame, that their names may never die. Viz. Isaac Garduer, Esq. Captain Isaac Davis, and Jonathan Wilson, Lieut. John Bacon, Sergeant Elisha Mills, and Deacon Josiah Haynes, killed; Captain Eleazer Kingsbury, Samuel Williams, Charles Mills, Oliver Barnes, Deacon Aaron Chamberlain, and Nathaniel Barrot, and George Minot, wounded. These sons of liberty rept the first rewards of glory, as martyrs in defence of the fires and the altars of their injured country, and of the church in the wilderness.

bouring country, and neighbouring colonies, and General Gage soon found himself closely invested in Boston.*

The spirit of the provincials, and the hasty retreat of the troops into Boston, gave such an alarm to General Gage, that he began immediately to provide for his own safety, by disarming the inhabitants of the town of Boston, and causing the same to be deposited in Fanuel Hall, by a special agreement with the town committee, said arms to be under the care of the select-men, and to be hereafter returned to their owners.t

He also gave permission, to all who chose to remove into the country, with their families and effects, and promised protection to all such as should choose to remain, and engaged also that the poor should be comfortably provided for. The committee of the town, at the request of General Gage, wrote the following letter to Dr. Warren, chairman of Congress, dated April 25th. "Permission will be granted for 30 waggons to enter the town at once, to carry away the effects of the inhabitants; so soon as those have returned to the end of the causeway leading to Roxbury, others will be permitted to come in. None will be permitted to enter until after sun rise, nor to depart after sunset. If any vessel, or boat now in the harbour, be employed to remove the effects of the inhabitants, security must be given that it be returned. It is expected that leave be obtained for some persons to go to the different parishes, to give notice to such persons as may choose to come with their effects into Boston, that they may come without molestation; and it is desired that the waggons, and vessels employed to carry away the effects of the in

*The whole amount of loss and damage done by the British in this expedition, as estimated by a committee specially appointed for that pu: pose, amounted to 24287. 14s. 11d.

† Under this requisition 1778 stand of arms, 634 pistols, 38 blunderbusses, and 273 bayonets, were lodged by the inhabitants.

habitants of Boston, may bring the effects of those who are desirous to leave the country, they paying half the expense."

To which Dr. Warren returned the following reply, the next day, April 26th.

"Sir,

"The unhappy situation into which this colony is thrown, gives the greatest uneasiness to every man, who regards the welfare of the empire, or feels for the distresses of his fellow men; but even now much may be done to alleviate those misfortunes which cannot be entirely remedied; and I think it of the utmost importance for us, that our conduct be such as that the contending parties may entirely rely upon the honour of each other, for the punctual performance of any agreement that may be made between them. Your excellency, I believe, knows very well the part I have taken in public affairs. I ever scorned disguise, I think I have done my duty; some may think I have done otherwise; but be assured, sir, as far as my influence goes, every thing that can be required of us reasonably to do, shall be done; and every thing promised shall be religious. ly performed. I should now wish to know of you sir, how many days you desire may be allowed for such as wish to remove to Boston with their effects, and what time you will allow the people of Boston for their removal. When I have received the information, I will repair to Congress, and hasten as far as I am able, the issuing a proclamation. I beg leave to suggest that the admitting of only thirty waggons at a time into the town, appears to me very inconvenient, and will prevent the good effects of a proclamation intended to be issued for the encouragement of all waggoners, to assist in removing the effects from Boston, with all possible speed. If your excellency will be pleased to take the matter into consideration, and favour me as soon as may be, with an answer, it will lay me under a

great obligation, as it so nearly concerns the welfare of my friends in Boston," &c.

Under this arrangement, a general removal took place, by all such as wished to remove, either out of, or into Boston, until General Gage found that too much of the valuable effects was about to be removed from the town; he then began his restrictions, by suffering the inhabitants to remove without carrying any more of their effects, than were necessary for immediate use; but when he discovered the frauds that were committed under this license, he interdicted all intercourse, and the town was shut.

At this time the heroes of the old war had assembled their brave companions in arms, and joined General Ward at Cambridge. Amongst these stood the brave Colonel Putnam, who, like Cincinnatus, abandoned the labours of the field, and put himself at the head of a numerous collection of militia, from the town and vicinity where he dwelt, and in his rustic dress flew to the aid of his country, and reached Cambridge in 18 hours; (a distance of 100 miles ;) and his comrades in arms joined him soon after, on foot, by a march as rapid in proportion as that of their chief. The same ardent zeal prevailed generally throughout the neighbouring colonies.

New-York shut her custom-house upon the first tidings of the Lexington action, and closed her port against all vessels bound to Quebec, Newfoundland, Georgia, and Boston. This threw the city into such a high state of confusion, and alarm, that it became necessary to appoint a committee of one hundred, for the city and county of NewYork, to quiet the minds of the people, and restore tranquillity. This committee, in an address to the lord-mayor, aldermen, and common council of the city of London, thus expressed themselves, May 5th.

"The disposal of our own property, with perfect spontaneity, and in a manner wholly divested of every appear.

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