Were you surprised at the turnout of men from the other colonies?
Gage’s men fired on colonial citizens and raided a colonial armory. That murderous act infringed on the rights of citizens in all 13 colonies. I asked a young friend from Woodburn why he ran to Lexington. He said, “Gage has no right to the cannon, they were made in New England foundries. Next, they’ll be taking my musket.”
Then you anticipate support from every colony?
As I said, sir, this is not a New England affair. Parliament is imposing its will on every colony.
When you say Parliament imposes its will on you, isn’t England simply presenting a bill for services rendered? That is, the cost in helping you rid yourselves of the French in the last war?
I believe just the opposite is true. England was in a war with France and Spain. The colonies happened to be one of the battlefields. Our militia rose to the occasion and fought side by side with the British. We suffered loss of life and property during those times and who, may I ask, is paying us? Still we might accept a reasonable share of England’s cost. We simply insist on the liberty of putting it to a vote among ourselves.
It’s been rumored that the Congress will vote to unite all militia under one Continental Army. Is this one of your proposals?
No, the delegate from Braintree proposed it. He feels a single army under one command is necessary in the event of an all out war.
And that delegate from Braintree would be your cousin, John Adams?
Yes.
Do you agree with him?
If Parliament is foolhardy enough to engage us in a full scale war, I would have to agree with him. It seems to me, the more serious issue is determining who should take command of our army. I am suspicious of that much power in the hands of one person.
Are you concerned about Loyalist sympathizers?
I believe there are families here who have been given privileges by the Crown and Parliament. Those who have sided with Thomas Gage in this conflict should be considered the enemies of liberty.
Do you expect any support in England now that blood has spilled between yourselves?
We’ve never been without the support of liberty loving citizens in England. The city of London petitioned Parliament against the Intolerable Act two years ago. And again in February of this year they protested the Fisheries Acts. The Mayor of London has said Parliament’s attempts to establish arbitrary power over us affects their liberties as well.
Yet there are many in England who condemn your rebellion.
This is not a rebellion, sir. English subjects are being oppressed with unjust laws imposed by a tyrannical Parliament that they have no representation in. This is a revolution.
Then you expect a war with England?
None of us wants a war. We’d much prefer our liberties without the loss of blood, but if Parliament insists in denying us we have the resolve to win them ourselves.
By “liberties,” you mean independence.
Yes, if reconciliation is impossible.
Some of your detractors accuse you of perpetuating the conflict over here in order to gain your independence. They claim you never wanted reconciliation.
That is not true. We had no quarrel with English rule until Parliament enacted the Townshend Act eight years ago. We asked for redress and they answered by taxing our tea, denying us fishing rights in Newfoundland and closing the port of Boston. Last year, many of us thought the elections over there would bring in a just government, one we could negotiate with. We were wrong. The same crowd of lackeys are in power.
Lackeys?
Lord North’s junta. The King’s hired guns that control Parliament.
Well thank your Mr. Adams for your candid comments.
You’re welcome.
RIOTS IN NEW YORK! BOSTON EVACUATED!
Lexington Killings Heap Outrage on British
All ranks of men amongst us are in arms. Nothing is heard now in our streets but the trumpet and drum; and the universal cry is “America to arms!”
A Philadelphia Lady
To a British Officer in Boston
Boston, Massachusetts: Apr. 28, 1775. News of the Lexington killings brought a mob of protesters into the streets of New York last week where they raided the city’s arsenal and commandeered over 600 muskets. Apparently, the protesters seized all the custom houses and public buildings in that port city of 20,000.
While hundreds of self-described Patriots rioted in New York, thousands of Boston refugees inched their way along Orange Street to British checkpoints at the Boston neck.
Boston’s evacuation resulted from an agreement reached between General Gage and the Massachusetts’ Committee of Public Safety. Both Gage and the Committee gave notice; they entered into the agreement for humanitarian purposes only. Boston had suffered an extreme shortage of food and medical supplies since Gage closed the port in April of last year.
Several epidemics of smallpox among Boston citizens and British troops had ravaged the occupied city. Many in Boston feel that Gage initiated the agreement because he fears an uprising among the city’s Whig inhabitants who are angered at the Lexington massacre. The agreement also provides that Loyalists who evacuated the city before Gage’s arrival be allowed to return unmolested by the rebels.
Though rebel leaders acknowledge it is to Gage’s advantage that his troops are quartered in a city populated by people friendly to the Crown, they argue that many Patriot sympathizers have been harassed and threatened by Boston Loyalists close to Gage and his officers. They also contend that the poor in Boston, who suffered extreme hardships during the winter months, now have an opportunity to leave the city under the blanket agreement.
The rebel Massachusetts’ Provincial Congress has directed towns within its jurisdiction to supply refugees with transportation and money to sustain themselves during relocation. It is estimated the population of Boston, which numbered over 15,000 before Gage and his troops arrived, will shrink to a few thousand after the exodus is completed.
REBELS CAPTURE TICONDEROGA
Strategic Fort Falls to Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys
Colonel Arnold came to us with his orders and demanded the command of our people, as he said we had no proper orders. We told him we could not surrender the command to him, as our people were raised on condition that they would be commanded by their own officers.
Captain Edward Mott, Connecticut Militia
May 8, 1775
Colonel Allen is a proper man to head his own wild people, but entirely unacquainted with military service; and as I am the only person who has been legally authorized to take possession of this place I am determined to insist on my right and I think it my duty to remain here against all opposition until I have further orders.
Colonel Benedict Arnold
To the Massachusetts Committee of Safety
May