2022-11 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2022
A complete and authentic issue of New-England Chronicle: or, the Essex Gazette, May 2-12 1775, 4pp, disbound. From page two, "The following extracts from several intercepted Letters of the Soldiery in Boston may serve to show the Importance of the late Action ..." Boston, April 28, 1775, in part "I am well, all but a Wound I received through the Leg by a Ball from one of the Bostonians. At the Time I wrote you from Quebec, I had the strongest Assurance of going Home, but the laying of Tax on the New-England People caused us to be ordered for Boston, where we remained in Peace with the Inhabitants, till, on the Night of the 18th of April, twenty one Companies of Grenadiers and Light-Infantry were ordered into the Country about 18 miles; where between 4 and 5 o'clock in the Morning, we met an incredible Number of People of the Country in Arms against us. Col. Smyth of the 10th Regiment ordered us to rush on them with our Bayonets fixed; at which time some of the Peasants fired on us, and our Men returning the Fire, the Engagement began; they did not fight us like a regular Army, only like Savages, behind Trees and Stone Walls, and out of the Woods and Houses, where in the latter we killed Numbers of them, as well as in the Woods and Fields. The Engagement began between 4 and 5 in the Morning and lasted till 8 at Night. I can't be sure when you'll get another Letter from me, as this extensive Continent is all in Arms against us: These people are very numerous, and full as bad as the Indians for scalping and cutting the dead Men's Ears and Noses off, and those they get alive, that are wounded and can't get off the Ground." Another letter April 28, 1775, ""The Grenadiers and Light Infantry marched for Concord, where were Powder and Ball, Arms, and Cannon mounted on Carriages; but before we could destroy them all, we were fired on by the Country, who are not brought up in our military Way as ourselves, were surrounded always in the Woods; the Firing was very hot on both Sides.... We were obliged to retreat to Boston again, over Charles River, our Ammunition being all fired away. We had 150 wounded and killed, and some taken Prisoners; we were forced to leave some behind, who were wounded.... I had my Hat shot off my Head 3 Times, 2 Balls through my Coat, and carried away my Bayonet by my Side, and near being killed. The People of Boston are in great Trouble, for G. Gage will not let the Town's People go out." Another, April 30, 1775 " ... "As soon as we came up we fired the Cannon, which brought them from behind the Trees, for we did not fight as you did in Germany, for we could not see above 10 in a Body, for they were behind Trees and Walls, and fired at us, and then loaded on their Bellies. We had but 36 Rounds, which obliged us to go Home that Night, and as we came along they got before us and fired at us out of the Houses and killed and wounded a great many of us, but we levelled their Houses as we came along. It was thought there were about 6000 at first, and at Night double that Number. The King's Troops lost in killed and wounded 150, and the Americans 500 Men, Women and Children, for there was a Number of Women and Children burnt in their Houses.... We have been busy in fortifying the Town ever since we engaged, in a few Days we expect a good many more Troops from England, and then we shall surely burn the whole Country before us, if they don't submit, which I don't imagine they will do, for they are an obstinate Set of People. ...." Another April 25, 1775, "The Rebels when we came to Concord burned their stores, fired upon the King's troops ... The Rebels were monstrous numerous, and surrounded us on every Side, when they come up we gave them a smart Fire, but they never would engage us properly.... I received a Wound in my Head. The Troops are in Boston, and surrounded on the Land Side by the Rebels, who are very numerous, and fully determined to lose their Lives and Fortunes, rather than be taxed by England. ... We killed some Hundreds .. We had 34 killed and wounded ..." And still another, May 2, 1775, "The 19th of April the Engagement happened, and my Husband was wounded and taken Prisoner, but they use him well, and I am striving to get to him.... My husband is now laying in one of their hospitals at a place called Cambridge and there is now 4 to 5000 of them gathered together ....." Pg 3, c 1, New York, May 4, In part "PERSUADED that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America, depend, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety; and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the powers of government; WE, the Freemen, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the city and county of New-York, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts-Bay, DO, in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves; and do associate under all the ties of religion, honor, and love to our country, to adopt, and endeavor to carry into execution, whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great-Britain and America, on constitutional principles, (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained; -and that we will, in all things, follow the advice of our general committee respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individuals, and private property. "'Dated in New-York, April and May, 1775." Then, p3, c2, Report declaring that General Gage had received a "black list" of "rebels" to execute: ""From unquestionable authority I learn, that about a fortnight ago, dispatches were sent from hence by a sloop of war to General Gage, containing, among other things, a royal proclamation, declaring the inhabitants of Massachusetts-Bay, and some others in different colonies, actual rebels; with a blank commission to try and execute such of them as he can get hold of;...with this is sent a list of names to be inserted in the commission as he may judge expedient. I do not know them all, but Messrs. Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Payne, and John Hancock, of Massachusetts-Bay;...John Dickinson, of Philadelphia; Peyton Randolph, of Virginia; and Henry Middleton, of South-Carolina, are particularly named, with many others.... This black list, the General will, no doubt, keep to himself,... and unfold it gradually, as he finds it convenient." Then under Printing Office, Cambridge, May 12, 1775, "At the Desire of many respectable Gentlemen, Members of the Honourable Provincial Congress, we have removed our Printing-Office from Salem to this Place [Harvard College in Cambridge];where we shall exert our best Endeavours in continuing to conduct the Business in general, and this Paper in particular, in such a Manner as will best promote the public Good, especially in this important Crisis-when the Property, the Lives, and (what is infinitely more valuable) the LIBERTY, of the good People of this Country, are in Danger of being torn from them by the cruel Hands of arbitrary Power."
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