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satisfaction to Mr. Adams and myself, and to the people of this County—do gratify us. I also beg leave you would recommend to the notice of General Heath, in my name, Mr. Nathaniel Nazro, of this Town, who is desirous of being noticed in the Army; he is lively, active, and capable. My respects to Heath, and all friends. Pray General Heath to take notice of this recommendation. God bless you. Adieu. I am your real friend, JOHN HANCOCK. COMMITTEE OF BOSTON TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY. Boston, April 25, 1775. SIR: We shall communicate to the Committee of Donations the advice which your letter of yesterday gave us, respecting the application of the donation money in their hands, and are much obliged for your assurances that you shall not fail to lend the inhabitants of the Town your best assistance with regard to the furnishing them with habitations in the country. They will also want a great number of Wagons to carry off their effects, which, we hope, can be had from the country, and which you will please to permit to come in. We beg leave to repeat with earnestness our desire and the desire of the Town, that those who incline to remove from the country with their effects into Boston, may do it without the least injury or interruption. For this purpose you will permit us to wish that you would publish proclamations or notifications that passes may be had for all such persons at Roxbury and Cambridge, and such other places as you shall please to appoint. You will have the goodness to excuse us for again soliciting that this may be done as speedily as possible. We are, respectfully, your humble servants,
Permission will be given for thirty Wagons 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, then others will be permitted to come in. None will be permitted to enter till after sunrise, nor to remain after sunset. If any Vessel or Boat, now in the Harbour, be employed to remove the inhabitants’ effects, security must be given that the Vessel or Boat be returned. That leave be obtained for some persons to go to the different Parishes to give notice to such persons who incline to come with their effects into Boston, that they may come without molestation; and it is desired that the Wagons and Vessels employed to come and carry away the Goods of the inhabitants of Boston, may bring the effects of those who are desirous to leave the country, they paying half the charge. Salem, April 25, 1775. Last Wednesday the 19th of April, the Troops of His Britannick Majesty commenced hostilities upon the people of this Province, attended with circumstances of cruelty, not less brutal than what our venerable ancestors received from the vilest Savages of the wilderness. The particulars relative to this interesting event, by which we are involved in all the horrours of a civil war, we have endeavoured to collect as well as the present confused state of affairs will admit. On Tuesday evening a detachment from the Army, consisting, it is said, of eight or nine hundred men, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Smith, embarked at the bottom of the Common in Boston, on board a number of boats, and landed at Phipps’s farm, a little way up Charles River, from whence they proceeded with silence and expedition on their way to Concord, about eighteen miles from Boston. The people were soon alarmed, and began to assemble in several Towns, before daylight, in order to watch the motion of the Troops. At Lexington, six miles below Concord, a company of Militia, of about one hundred men, mustered near the Meeting-House; the Troops came in sight of them just before sunrise; and running within a few rods of them, the Commanding Officer accosted the Militia in words to this effect: “Disperse, you rebels—damn you, throw down your arms and disperse;" upon which the Troops huzzaed, and immediately one or two officers discharged their pistols, which were instantaneously followed by the firing of four or five of the soldiers, and then there seemed to be a general discharge from the whole body: eight of our men were killed, and nine wounded. In a few minutes after this action the enemy renewed their march for Concord; at which place they destroyed several Carriages, Carriage Wheels, and about twenty barrels of Flour, all belonging to the Province. Here about one hundred and fifty men going towards a bridge, of which the enemy were in possession, the latter fired and killed two of our men, who then returned the fire, and obliged the enemy to retreat back to Lexington, where they met Lord Percy, with a large reinforcement, with two pieces of cannon. The enemy now having a body of about eighteen hundred men, made a halt, picked up many of their dead, and took care of their wounded. At Menotomy, a few of our men attacked a party of twelve of the enemy, (carrying stores and provisions to the Troops,) killed one of them, wounded several, made the rest prisoners, and took possession of all their arms, stores, provisions, &c., without any loss on our side. The enemy having halted one or two hours at Lexington, found it necessary to make a second retreat, carrying with them many of their dead and wounded, who they put into chaises and on horses that they found standing in the road. They continued their retreat from Lexington to Charlestown with great precipitation; and notwithstanding their field-pieces, our people continued the pursuit, firing at them till they got to Charlestown Neck, (which they reached a little after sunset.) over which the enemy passed, proceeded up Bunker’s Hill, and soon afterwards went into the Town, under the protection of the Somerset Man-of-War of sixty-four guns. In Lexington the enemy set fire to Deacon Joseph Loring’s house and barn, Mrs. Mullikin’s house and shop, and Mr. Joshua Bond’s house and shop, which were all consumed. They also set fire to several other houses, but our people extinguished the flames. They pillaged almost every house they passed by, breaking and destroying doors, windows, glasses, &c., and carrying off clothing and other valuable effects. It appeared to be their design to burn and destroy all before them; and nothing but our vigorous pursuit prevented their infernal purposes from being put in execution. But the savage barbarity exercised upon the bodies of our unfortunate brethren who fell, is almost incredible: not contented with shooting down the unarmed, aged, and infirm, they disregarded the cries of the wounded, killing them without mercy, and mangling their bodies in the most shocking manner. We have the pleasure to say, that, notwithstanding the highest provocations given by the enemy, not one instance of cruelty, that we have heard of, was committed by our victorious Militia; but, listening to the merciful dictates of the Christian religion, they "breathed higher sentiments of humanity." The consternation of the people of Charlestown, when our enemies were entering the Town, is inexpressible; the Troops however behaved tolerably civil, and the people have since nearly all left the Town. The following is a List of the Provincials who were killed and wounded: CAMBRIDGE.—Killed: William Marcy, Moses Richardson, John Hicks, Jason Russell, Jabish Wyman, Jason Winship. Wounded: Captain Samuel Whittemore. Missing: Samuel Frost, Seth Russell.
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