RAVAGES OF THE KING’S TROOPS ON THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL, 1775.

The Committee appointed to estimate the damages done at Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord, by the King’s Troops on the 19th day of April, 1775, having attended that service, beg leave to report:

That the devastation made by fire and robbery on said day, by said Troops, is as follows, viz:

The damage to the buildings in Cambridge; estimated according to the best skill and judgment of your Committee; after viewing the same, amounts to	£ 76	5 s.	6 d.
The value of the goods and chattles that were destroyed or taken out of said houses, or near the same, by the estimation of those persons, (by their several accounts exhibited) on oath, who lost the same, amounts to	£1036	6 s.	3 d.
The value of the goods and chattles that were destroyed or taken out of said houses, or near the same, by the estimation of those persons, by their several accounts exhibited, who left the same, but were not sworn to by reason of some being absent, or some other inconveniences that attended the same, amounts to	£72	6 s.	10 d.
Damage done to the meeting-house and school-house in the north-west precinct, in said Cambridge, estimated by your Committee, amounts to	£0	13 s.	4 d.
Vessels, linen, and cash belonging to the church of said precinct, taken out of the house of Joseph Adams, deacon of said church, as by his account exhibited on oath, amounts to	£16	16 s.	8 d.
Total,	£1202	8 s.	7 d.
Damages sustained in LEXINGTON, viz:
The following buildings destroyed by fire, with cash, utensils, and other moveables, either burnt in the same, or carried away, estimated by the owners of said premises, as by their accounts exhibited on oath,	£891	8 s.	6 d.
Damage to other buildings in said Town, estimated as the buildings in Cambridge, amounts to	£32	18 s.	7 d.
Damage (by robbing of said Troops) by sundry inhabitants, as by their several accounts on oath,	£760	18 s.	2 d.
Damage sustained by other inhabitants, as their several accounts exhibited, but not on oath, for the reasons afore mentioned, amounts to	£74	4 s.	2 d.
Damage to meeting-house in said Town,	£l	12 s.	0 d.
Total,	£1761	1 s.	5 d.
Damage sustained in CONCORD, viz:
The buildings estimated as above,	£2	12 s.	0 d.
Damage sustained by sundry inhabitants in manner aforesaid, under oath, amounts to	£209	16 s.	10 d.
Damage by other inhabitants, not under oath, for reasons aforesaid, amounts to	£59	1 s.	9 d.
Damage to sundry door-locks broke in His Majesty’s Jail, in said Town, by account exhibited on oath, by the under keeper of said jail, amounts to	£3	6 s.	0 d.
Total,	£274	16 s.	7 d.

	ABRAHAM FULLER, ICHABOD GOODWIN, OLIVER WHITNEY,	}	Committee.

SAMUEL BULLARD TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Sherburn, May 23, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: A harmony between officers and privates was never more necessary to promote the general good than at this present period. Permit me for a moment to suggest to you, what appears to me in its consequences very detrimental to that unanimity hinted above. A sergeant and private soldier informed me this day, that Colonel Jacob Miller, of Hollistown, was likely to be discharged from his command in the Regiment. I must say, gentlemen, this information gave me great pain, when I consider him as a brave and resolute man, a good soldier, and a person who made no interest to obtain the command he held. He is universally esteemed by all who personally know him, and was chosen agreeably to the direction of the Committee of Safety, as declared by Colonel Pierce, moderator of the corps of officers at the time of choice. Consider, gentlemen, the apparent consequences which are likely to ensue should Colonel Miller be discharged. I am credibly informed that three or four companies that are raised and are raising will refuse serving in the Regiment, and perhaps be the means of ruining the Regiment entirely. I thought it my duty to communicate these hints for the good of my Country, which I hope will be a sufficient apology for this address. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

SAMUEL BULLARD.

TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SIR: The letters which we have this day received from General Ward, through your Honourable Congress, carry with them such ungenerous treatment as this Committee could not conceive that it had merited. We, Sir, are conscious to ourselves of having discharged the heavy duty of our office to the utmost of our power with fidelity, and we think if your General has any consideration he must acknowledge it; nevertheless, after he knew that we had issued an advertisement for collecting the Colony Arms in the Essex Gazette, instead of assisting us in the matter, the Congress is troubled with the affair, as if their Committee was incapable of transacting such a trivial undertaking.

But what we think most hardly of is the affair of the plank. We received a memorandum, and ordered it to be provided immediately; the owner of the mills had not procured them yesterday, but engaged to have them in readiness by Tuesday morning, which we directed the boatman to apprise the General of. We shall, in justice to ourselves, expect an explanation of this matter, when the affairs of the Colony can be a little settled, from the General; and in the interim think it necessary to remove any unfair suggestions from the minds of the members of your Honourable Congress. Being, Sir, with respect, your humble servant,

DAVID CHEEVER, per order.

MASSACHUSETTS COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO THE PROVINCIAL
CONGRESS.

SIR: This Committee having received from Captain Benedict Arnold, by letter of the 11th of May, instant, information, respecting the reduction of Ticonderoga, and the situation of that fortress in many respects, beg leave to lay said letter before the Honourable Congress, that they may proceed thereon in such manner as to them in their wisdom shall seem meet. This Committee apprehend it to be out of their province in any respect whatever.

We are, with due respect, your Honours’ obedient humble servants,

J. PALMER, Chairman.

To the Honourable President of the Provincial Congress, now sitting at Watertown.

MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS TO BENEDICT ARNOLD.

Watertown, May 22, 1775.

SIR: This Congress have this day received your letter of the eleventh instant, informing the Committee of Safety of the reduction of the fort at Ticonderoga, with its dependencies which was laid before this Congress by said Committee. We applaud the conduct of the Troops, and esteem it a very valuable acquisition.

We thank you for your exertions in the cause, and considering the situation of this Colony at this time, having a formidable Army in the heart of it, whose motions must be constantly attended to, and as the affairs of that expedition began in the Colony of Connecticut, and the cause being common to us all, we have already wrote to the General Assembly of that Colony to take the whole matter respecting the same under their care and direction, until the advice of the Continental Congress can be had in that behalf, a copy of which letter we now enclose you.

We are, &c.