from the west part of the Town, in boats of the Men-of-War, to Cambridge, from whence they marched on towards Concord, which is about twenty miles from hence. On their way, in passing through Lexington, the Troops came unexpectedly on a Company of our country people, (who are called Minute-Men) that were early in the morning exercising with arms, without ammunition. The Officer of the Troops is said to have ordered them to lay down their arms. The Captain replied, he was on his own ground; that his Company were without ammunition, and had no intent but that of improving in the military art. After some altercation, report says the Captain and his men turned to go off, and that the Light-Infantry fired on them, killed six, and wounded mortally two others. The Troops continuing their route to Concord, the country, by the time of their getting there, was alarmed; and our people, taking to a hill, began firing upon the Troops with about two hundred men, which number, receiving continual additions, the Troops were all the remainder of the day on their retreat to Charlestown, and many of the officers who have returned say they never were in a hotter engagement. Many are killed on both sides, and were left on the roads, neither side having time to collect their dead. Our people came to no regular battle, but annoyed their whole passage back. We could see the flashes, and hear the reports of the guns for hours; the warmest fire being about two miles from the Town, where only water parted us.

The marching of the Troops to the water side was so sudden and silent, that few of the inhabitants knew of it till next morning.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BOSTON TO A MERCHANT IN NEW-YORK, DATED THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1775.

What I was apprehensive of in my last, is now confirmed. Yesterday morning the Grenadiers and Light-Infantry of all the Regiments in Town marched out very unexpectedly, and proceeded to Concord, twenty-one miles from hence; at which place the Provincial Congress sat, and where large Magazines, belonging to the Country, were collected, which were totally destroyed. This party consisted of about eight hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, of the Tenth Regiment. About six hours after those left Boston, a Brigade was ordered out, consisting of one thousand men, commanded by Lord Percy. These marched about sixteen miles, to a place called Lexington, where they met the first party returning, and who, in their first march up, had killed eight or ten men that opposed their march. Upon the Army’s return, near Lexington, they were fired on from the woods, which was returned. Thus the engagement became general, and continued for seven hours, during which several lives were lost, and a great many wounded. It is surprising how soon the country people mustered, and in vast numbers; so much, that the Troops were obliged to retreat near twelve miles, and all this way a constant firing was kept up on both sides. The country people fired all from cover, and by this means had much the advantage of the Troops. The engagement lasted until night put an end to it. I saw a great part of it from Beacon Hill. They kept a constant firing until they got into Charlestown. The loss on the part of the Troops, from the best information; is about two hundred killed; among which there are no Officers, though many very much wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard, of the Royal Welch, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, of the Tenth, are slightly wounded. Lieutenant Gould, of the Fourth Regiment, is also wounded. Major Moncrieffe, Captain Parsons, and Mr. Haines, are safe returned. The loss on the side of the Country must be considerable; at present, there is no coming to any certainty. From the preparations that are making, I think it will be soon renewed.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN NEWPORT (RHODE-ISLAND) TO THE NEW-YORK COMMITTEE, DATED APRIL 21, 1775.

Yesterday the Town was alarmed by intelligence contained in a letter, which came express from Providence, to the Governour, subscribed by the Lieutenant-Governour, S. Hopkins, J. Jenks, S. Nightingale, J. Brown, and about twenty others, inhabitants of the Town of Providence, which says: “Our brethren of the Massachusetts-Bay are attacked by a body of the Regular Troops, and many friends are slain.” They then request the Governour to call the Assembly, to make the necessary preparations for the common defence; to which a postscript is added, signed Thomas Green, that Colonel Warren and Doctor Pyncham, two Deputies from Massachusetts Congress, were at Providence, waiting to consult the Assembly on what was proper to be done. There is also another letter from S. Hopkins to Major-General Potter, a copy of which was forwarded to the Governour, and calls upon the Major-General to repair to Providence, to consult with Lieutenant-General Sessions; this says: “The King’s Troops are actually engaged butchering and destroying our brethren in the most inhuman manner. The inhabitants oppose them with great zeal and courage.”

Both the above letters are dated, Providence, April 19, 1775, at night.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM WEATHERSFIELD, IN CONNECTICUT, TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK, DATED APRIL 23, 1775.

The late frequent marchings and counter-marchings into the country, were calculated to conceal the most cruel and inhuman design; and imagining they had laid suspicion, asleep, they pitched upon Tuesday night for the execution. A hint being got, two expresses were sent to alarm the Congress. One of them had the good fortune to arrive; the other (Mr. Revere) is missing, supposed to be waylaid and slain. In the night of Tuesday, the Company of Grenadiers and Light-Infantry, from every Regiment, were transported to Charlestown in long-boats, and at daybreak began their march for Lexington, where a number of the inhabitants were assembled peaceably, without arms, to consult their safety. The Commander called them rebels, and bade them disperse. On their refusal, he fired; killed and wounded nine. They then proceeded towards Concord, marking their way with cruelties and barbarity, never equalled by the Savages of America. In one house a woman and seven children were slaughtered, (perhaps on their return.) At Concord, they seized two pieces of cannon, and destroyed two others, with all the flour, &c., in store, but the people secured their magazine of powder, &c.

By this time, about four hundred (no accounts make them more than five hundred) of our men assembled, and placed themselves so advantageously, without being perceived, that when the enemy were on the return, they received the full fire of our men. A heavy engagement ensued; the enemy retreating, and our men pressing on them with constant reinforcements. At Lexington, they retook their two pieces of cannon, seized the enemy’s wagons and baggage, and made about twenty prisoners; continuing to press the Regulars close to Charlestown, where they were on the point of giving up, (one account says this Brigade was almost all cut off,) but a reinforcement, under the command of Lord Percy, having been detached that morning from Boston, they joined the first detachment in the retreat, and retired with it to Bunker’s Hill, where they intrenched, and night parted them. Our number increased, and next morning would have surrounded the hill, had it not been for the situation near the water, where, on one side, they were exposed to the fire from a Man-of-War.

We lost thirty men in the action. The lowest account of the enemy’s loss is one hundred and fifty. Lord Percy, General Haldimand, and many other officers, are said to be among the slain. A gentleman of veracity assured me that he numbered, within half a mile from the place where the fight began, one hundred and fifty. The post confirms the same account.

We are all in motion here, and equipt from the Town, yesterday, one hundred young men, who cheerfully offered their service; twenty days provision, and sixty-four rounds, per man. They are all well armed, and in high spirits. My brother is gone with them, and others of the first property. Our neighbouring Towns are all arming and moving. Men of the first character and property shoulder their arms and march off for the field of action. We shall, by night, have several thousands from this Colony on their march.