History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts by Samuel Adams Drake

Author:Samuel Adams Drake [Drake, Samuel Adams]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Geschichte
Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
Published: 2017-12-06T23:00:00+00:00

XV. THE PRELUDE TO HOSTILITIES.

General Gage's military measures, though limited to depriving the provincials of the means of resistance, were sure to provoke a collision at no distant day. He had, as already related, seized the province powder and cannon. Another expedition, dispatched for a like purpose to Salem, only failed through the firmness of the people of Essex. Anxiety to avoid bloodshed characterized the movements of both parties, even after both were convinced that it must come to that issue at last. The British commander had, however, determined either to obtain possession of or destroy the magazines at Concord and Worcester; indeed, no other course was consistent with his honor or his safety. He was well informed of the places of deposit, having sent officers to reconnoiter the roads, and to gather such information as they could from inhabitants friendly to the royal cause.

Moreover, one of the earliest and most trusted members of the patriot junto had, at this early period, traitorously divulged its secrets to the general before the discovery of his infamy was made. The British troops constantly practiced in firing with hall, to enable them to cope with the skillful American marksmen. The regiments not on duty were frequently exercised by marching a few miles into the country, which in the present disturbed condition of the public mind caused considerable alarm. On the 30th of March a brigade of regulars marched out over the neck, apparently with no other object than to overawe the people by a display of force, but the movement of so large a body created great excitement at Cambridge.

Other movements tended to excite suspicion and uneasiness, so that under the appearance of calm the people were possessed by a feverish agitation, a sense of coming danger.

On their side, the patriots were well served by their friends in Boston. Every movement of the soldiery 'was instantly reported to the provincial committees. The vital question of when-hostilities should begin was solved by the deliberate determination, that whenever the British troops marched into the country with baggage and artillery they should be opposed by force.

A second Provincial Congress met at Cambridge on the first day of February 1775. It reaffirmed the powers previously granted to the Committees of Safety and Supply, confirmed the appointment of Hancock, Cushing. the two Adamses, and Robert Treat Paine as delegates to the Philadelphia Congress, declared all persons contributing labor or materials to the British troops enemies to America, recommended the manufacture of saltpeter by the inhabitants, chose John Pigeon commissary of the, provincial army, chose John Whitcomb of Lancaster an additional general officer, and after transacting much important business adjourned, to meet at Concord on the 22nd of March. In an emergency arising during the intermission, members from Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury, Brookline, and Dorchester were authorized to call the congress together.

The congress, upon reassembling, prepared a code of regulations for the Massachusetts army, and continued its measures for putting the province in a posture of defense. While sitting, intelligence

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.