tilities would immediately have commenced, had it not been for the interposition of a clergyman, who represented to the military, on the one hand, the folly of opposing such numbers; and to the people, on the other, that as the day was far spent, the military could not execute their design, so that they might without any fear leave them the quiet possession of the draw-bridge. This was complied with; and the soldiers, after having remained for some time at the bridge, returned without executing their orders.

The next attempt, however, was attended with more serious consequences. General Gage having been informed that a large quantity of ammunition and military stores had been collected at Concord, about 20 miles ftom Boston, for the support of a provincial army, wished to prevent hostilities by depriving the inhabitants of the means necessary for carrying them on. It was likewise reported that he had a design to seize messieurs Hancock and Adams, the leading men of the congress. Wishing to accomplish his design without April 18.

bloodshed, he took every precaution to effect it by surprise, and without alarming the country. At eleven o'clock at night, 800 grenadiers and light infantry, the flower of the royal army, embarked at the common, landed at Phipp's farm, and marched for Concord, under the command of lieutenant colonel Smith. Neither the secrecy with which this expedition was planned; the privacy with which the troops marched out, nor an order that no inhabitants should leave Boston, were sufficient to prevent intelligence from being sent to the country militia, of what was going on.

About two in the morning, 130 of the Lexington militia had assembled to oppose them, but the air being chilly, and intelligence respecting the regulars uncertain, they were dismissed, with orders to appear again at beat of drum. They collected a second time to the number of 70, between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning, and the British regulars soon after made their appearance. Major Pitcairn, who led the advanced corps, rode up to them and called out, "Disperse, you rebels, throw down your arms and disperse." They still continued in a body, on which he advanced nearer-discharged his pistol and ordered his soldiers to fire. This was done with a huzza. A dispersion of the militia was the consequence, but the firing of the regulars was nevertheless continued. Individuals, finding they were fired upon, though dispersing, returned the fire. Three or

* Reverend Thomas Barnard.

four of the militia were killed on the green. A few more were shot after they had began to disperse. The royal detatchment proceeded on to Concord, and executed their commission. They disabled two 24 poundersthrew 500lb. of ball into the rivers and wells, and broke in pieces about 60 barrels of flour.

The

Mr. John Butterick of Concord, major of a minuteregiment, not knowing what had passed at Lexington, ordered his men not to give the first fire, that they might not be the aggressors. Upon his approaching near the regulars, they fired, and killed captain Isaac Davis, and one private of the provincial minute men. The fire was returned, and a skirmish ensued. king's troops, having done their business, began their retreat towards Boston. This was conducted with expedition, for the adjacent inhabitants had assembled in arms, and began to attack them in every direction. their return to Lexington, they were exceedingly annoyed, both by those who pressed on their rear, and others who, pouring in from all sides, fired from behind stone walls, and such like coverts, which supplied the place of lines and redoubts.

In

At Lexington the regulars were joined by a detachment of 900 men, under lord Piercy, which had been sent out by general Gage to support lieutenant colonel Smith. This reinforcement having two pieces of cannon, awed the provincials, and kept them at a greater distance, but they continued a constant, though irregular and scattering fire, which did great execution. The close firing from behind the walls by good marksmen, put the regular troops in no small confusion, but they nevertheless kept up a brisk retreating fire on the militia and minute-men.

A little after sunset, the regulars reached Bunker's Hill, worn down with excessive fatigue, having marched that day between thirty and forty miles. On the next day they crossed Charlestown ferry, and returned to Boston.

Of

There never were more than 400 provincials engaged at one time, and often not so many. As some tired and gave out, others came up and took their places. There was scarcely any discipline observed among them. ficers and privates fired when they were ready, and saw a royal uniform, without waiting for the word of command. Their knowledge of the country enabled them to gain opportunities by crossing fields and fences, and to act as flanking parties against the king's troops, who kept to the main road.

The regulars had 65 killed, 180 wounded, and 28 made prisoners. Of the provincials 50 were killed, and 38 wounded and missing.

This was the fatal day remarkable for the dismem. berment of the British empire, and the final separation of the American colonies. The provincial congress of Massachusetts, which was in session at the time of the battle, dispatched an account of it to Great Britain, accompanied with many depositions, to prove that the British troops were the aggressors. They also addressed the inhabitants of Great Britain,fin which, after complaining of their sufferings, they say, "these have not yet detached us from our royal sovereign; we profess to be his loyal and dutiful subjects, and though hardly dealt with, as we have been, are still ready with our lives and fortunes, to defend his person, crown, and dignity. Nevertheless, to the persecution and tyranny of his evil ministry, we will not tamely submit. Appealing to heaven for the justice of our cause, we determine to die or be free."

To prevent the people of Boston from joining their countrymen in the vicinity, in an attack which was threatened, general Gage agreed with the town committee that upon the inhabitants lodging their arms in Faneuil hall, or any other convenient place, under the care of the selectmen, such inhabitants as chose might depart with their families and effects. The arms delivered up after this agreement was concluded, were, 1778 fire arms, 634 pistols, 273 bayonets, and 38 blunderbusses. The agreement was well observed in the beginning, but after a short time obstructions were thrown in the way of its final complétion, on the plea that persons who went from Boston to bring in the goods of those who chose to continue within the town, were not properly treated. The general, on a farther consideration of the consequences of moving the whigs out of Boston, evaded it in a manner not consistent with good faith. He was in some measure compelled to adopt this dishonourable measure, from the clamour of the tories, who alleged that none but enemies to the British government were disposed to remove, and that when they were all safe with their families and effects, the town would be set on fire. The selectmen gave repeated assurances that the inhabitants had deliverd up their arms; on the other hand general Gage issued a proclamation, in which he asserted that he had full proof to the contrary. The provincial congress remon strated, but without effect. Passports were not universally refused, but were given out slowly. The general showed a disinclination to part with the women and children, thinking, that, by retaining them, the provincials would be restrained from assaulting, the town. This occasioned very distressing scenes-wives

separated from their husbands-children from their parents-and the aged and infirm from their relations and friends and this distress was heightened by the quibble which was made on the meaning of the word effects, which the general construed as not including merchandize; whereby he deprived the provincials of a supply of those articles of which they stood most in need. Thus, many who quitted the town were deprived of their usual means of support.

The flame of civil discord now broke out in all its fury. The bravery shown by the American militia in their first essay at Lexington, and the advantages they imagined themselves to have gained, afforded great matter of exultation.

The spirits of the people were so raised, that they meditated nothing less than the total expulsion of the British troops from Boston. An army of 20,000 men was assembled, who formed a line of encampment from Roxbury to Mystic; and here they were soon after joined by a large body of Connecticut troops, under General Putnam, an old officer of great bravery and experience. By this formidable force was the town of Boston now kept blocked up. General Gage, however, had so strongly fortified it, that the provincials, powerful as they were, durst not make an attack: whilst, on the other hand, his force was by far too insignificant to meet such an enemy in the field.

Resistance being universally resolved on by the Americans, the pulpit, the press, the bench and the bar, severally laboured to encourage them. The clergy of New England were a numerous, learned, and respecta. ble body, who had a great ascendency on the minds of their hearers. Their number is said to have amounted to 700, and their exertions in the public cause were important and effectual. In their prayers and in their sermons they represented the cause of America as the cause of heaven. The synod of New York and Philadelphia sent forth a pastoral letter, which was publickly read in their churches. This earnestly re. commended such sentiments and conduct as were suitable to their situation. Writers and printers followed in the rear of the preachers, and next to them had the greatest hand in animating their countrymen. Gentlemen of the bench and of the bar denied the charge of rebellion, and justified the resistance of the colonists. A distinction, founded on law, between the king and his ministry, was introduced. The former, it was contended, could do no wrong. The crime of treason was charged on the latter, for using the royal name to varnish their own unconstitutional measures. The phrase

of a ministerial war became common, and was used as a medium for reconciling resistance with allegiance.

At the same time that the organization of an army was resolved on by the continental congress, a public fast was recommended to be observed on the 20th of July 1775, throughout the UNITED COLONIES, as "a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer to Almighty God, to bless their rightful sovereign king George, and to inspire him with wisdom to discern and pursue the true interests of his subjects; and that the British nation might be influenced to regard the things that belonged to their peace, before they were hid from her eyes-that the colonies might be ever under the care and protection of a kind providence, and be prospered in all their interests-that America might soon behold a gracious interposition of heaven, for the redress of her manay grievances; the restoration of her invaded rights, a reconciliation with the parent state, jon terms constitu. tional and honorable to both."

The necessity of securing Ticonderoga was early attended to by many in New England. General Gage had set the example of attempting to seize upon military stores, and by so doing had commenced hostilities, so that retaliation appeared warrantable.

Colonel Allen was at Castleton with about 270 men, 230 of which were Green Mountain Boys, so called from their residing within the limits of the Green Mountains, the Hampshire grants being so denominated, from the range of green mountains that run through them. Centinels were placed immediately on all the roads to prevent any intelligence being carried to Ticonde

roga.

Colonel Arnold, who now joined colonel Allen, reported, that there were at Ticonderoga, 80 pieces of heavy cannon, 20 of brass, from four to eighteen pounders, ten or a dozen mortars, a number of small arms, and considerable stores; that the fort was in a ruinous condition, and, as he supposed, garrisoned by about forty men. It was then settled, that colonel Allen should have the supreme command, and colonel Arnold was to be his assistant.

They arrived at Lake Champlain, opposite Ticonde roga, on the ninth of May at night. Boats were with dif ficulty procured, when he and colonel Arnold crossed over with eighty-three men, and landed near the garriThe two colonels advanced along side each other, and entered the port, leading to their fort, in the grey of the morning. A centinel snapped his fusee at colonel Allen, and then retreated through the covered way to the parade. The main body of the Americans then fol

son.