EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A MERCHANT IN BOSTON TO HIS BROTHER IN SCOTLAND, DATED JUNE 24, 1775.

From the 19th of April to the 17th of June, nothing very material has happened. On the 12th of June the General issued a Proclamation, offering His Majesty’s most gracious pardon to all who would lay down arms and return to their duty, except two of the ringleaders; and likewise establishing martial law in this. Province while this unnatural rebellion exists; but no regard was paid to this.

On the 17th instant, at daylight, it was observed by some of the ships-of-war that the rebels had thrown up an intrenchment on a hill on the other side of the river, about one mile from this Town. The alarm about this new movement of theirs was general; for from this, if they were suffered to go on, they could beat down or burn the Town. At nine o’clock, a battery on an eminence in this Town, directly opposite to their works, began to play upon them, but found they could not dislodge them.

The rebels fired a few shot into this Town, and then desisted, for their shot did no execution. Eighteen hundred of the best of the Troops were immediately ordered to embark on board of boats, and go and engage them, under the command of General Howe. About three o’clock they landed on the other side about half a mile from the rebels, under the cover of five or six ships-of-war, who kept a continual fire on the ground betwixt the place of landing and the enemy, who chose to lie close in their breastworks all this time. As soon as the Troops had got themselves in order they began to advance, cannonading all the way till they came within gun-shot. Charlestown, on the foot of the hill, consisting of about two hundred houses, was set on fire by the fort on this side at the instant the engagement began, whose flames raged in the most rapid manner, being chiefly of wood. Sure I am nothing ever has or can be more dreadfully terrible than what was to be seen and heard at this time! The most incessant discharge of guns that ever was heard with mortal ears, continued for three quarters of an hour, and then the Troops forced their trenches, and the rebels fled.

The place where the battle was fought is a peninsula of a mile long, and a half broad, and the Troops drove them over the neck and kept the island. All this was seen from this Town.

A very small part of the enemy’s intrenchments was seen on this side, it being only thought to be the work of a night; but their chief breastworks were on the other side of the hill; it was found to be the strongest post that was ever occupied by any set of men, and the prisoners that were taken, say they were nine thousand strong, and had a good artillery. Five cannons were taken. The spirit and bravery that the British Troops exhibited on this occasion, I suppose is not to be surpassed in any history! But oh! the melancholy sight, of killed and wounded that was seen on that day! In four hours after their landing, not less than five hundred wounded were relanded here, and one hundred and forty were left dead on the field, amongst whom was a large proportion of brave officers, viz: thirty-six killed and forty-four wounded; three hundred of the rebels were killed, and thirty-six wounded left on the field, but they carried off great numbers of their wounded in their retreat. To the great satisfaction of all good men, Doctor Warren was slain, who was one of their first and greatest leaders.

Early next morning I went over and saw the field of battle, before any of the dead were buried, which was the first thing of the sort that I ever saw, and I pray God I may never have the opportunity of seeing the like again. The rebels are employed since that day fortifying all the hills, and passes within four miles, to prevent the Troops from advancing into the country. We hourly expect the Troops to make a movement against them, but they are too few in number, not less than twenty thousand being equal to the task- I cannot help mentioning one thing, which serves to show the hellish disposition of the accursed rebels: by parcels of ammunition that were left on the field, their balls were all found to be poisoned.

Thus, brother, I have endeavoured to give you a short account of the desperate state of matters here since my last, and shall sum up the whole with one single observation, viz: the delusion that reigns here is as universal and as deeply rooted as can be found in the annals of mankind; and of all other rebellions that ever existed in the world, it is the most unprovoked. I am, &c.

ORDER FOR A PUBLICK FAST BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

In Provincial Congress, Watertown, June 24, 1775.

Whereas Almighty God, the just, good, and all-wise Governour of the Universe, hath permitted Great Britain to make an unnatural, cruel, and violent attack upon these American Colonies, and, unprovoked, to murder, on the ever-memorable 19th of April last, many of the innocent, brave, and inoffensive inhabitants of this Colony, burning houses, destroying the private property, and carrying ruin and devastation through the country where they passed, until they were obliged to take shelter in the Town of Boston; since which the Troops under General Gage have not only shed the blood of many of our countrymen, who fell bravely fighting on the 17th instant, but have acted the part of savage incendiaries, by laying in ashes the Town of Charlestown in this Colony: And whereas some late oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, and designed by them soon to be enforced upon the Americans; and as large re-enforcements of Troops are arrived and arriving to join our enemies in Boston, which will probably induce them to make another trial of military prowess to penetrate into the country; and we being deeply impressed with a sense of our absolute dependance upon the Lord of Hosts and God of Armies for success in tin’s important war, into which we are driven by our enemies, renounce all confidence in our own strength, well knowing that the battle is not to the strong; relying upon the justice of our cause, and the Divine protection and assistance therein:

Do Resolve, That Thursday, the 13th day of July next, be observed throughout this Colony as a day of publick Fasting and Prayer, not only to humble ourselves before God, on account of our many sins; to implore his forgiveness; to beg his blessing upon the labours of the field, that he would be pleased to water the dry and thirsty earth with plenteous showers of rain, that the poor may be satisfied with bread, and that this year be crowned with goodness; to ask his blessing upon the various means used for the recovery and preservation of our rights; humbly to request that our Congress, those of the other Colonies, and especially the American Congress, be inspired with all that wisdom that is necessary to direct them in this day of difficulty and distress; to petition the assistance of his Spirit, to make us to bear and suffer whatever his holy and righteous Providence may see fit to lay upon us; but earnestly to beseech the Divine direction and assistance in our military operations, and that God would be pleased soon, very soon, to bring our enemies to reasonable terms of accommodation, that not only a stop may be put to the wanton effusion of human blood, but that Great Britain and these Colonies may speedily again rejoice in the inestimable blessings of peace, and the free and undisturbed exercise of all those rights, liberties, and privileges, civil and religious, for the enjoyment of which our pious and venerable ancestors braved every danger, (by which they have rendered their memory dear to us, their posterity,) and set an example worthy the imitation of all succeeding generations. And all religious societies of every denomination are hereby desired to observe and keep said day in that solemn and religious manner that becomes a people whose all is at stake; who, while they are, with unremitting vigilance, using those means for the salvation of their Country which human wisdom point out, yet feel their absolute dependance upon Him who superintends all the affairs of men, and will make the cause of the righteous to prevail.

GENERAL WARD TO THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESS.

Cambridge, June 24, 1775,

SIR: I am informed that Lieutenant Francis Cox, of Captain Richardson’s Company, in Colonel Mansfield’s Regiment, has deserted and left the service, and has carried away a number of enlistments, and told the same men they might go home, that no one had a right to stop them, although they were mustered, sworn, and paid. Many of the men are gone, and it is probable others will go.

Considering the present state of the Army, I would humbly suggest whether it would not be advisable for the