July 26, 2025 • 38 mins
Delve into the life of Joseph Warren, an influential figure in the early stages of the American Revolution. His understanding and advocacy for civil freedom made him a beloved leader in Boston and eventually propelled him to the forefront of public affairs in Massachusetts. Warrens ten-year commitment to the cause of liberty made him a notable figure in New Englands history. His life was marked by action, his words were as powerful as deeds. He tirelessly fought against the encroachments of unjust power, championing the principles of liberty through his writings, private club discussions, and leadership in public meetings. Join us as we explore the dignity and glory of Warrens life - a man whose legacy continues to inspire. - Summary by Richard Frothingham
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter fourteen of Life and Times of Joseph Warren by
Richard Frotingham. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
On the nineteenth of April, the Committee of Safety, Warren's Letters,
the Second Provincial Congress, Military Preparations, Warren's vigilance, Colonel Smith's expedition.
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Warren leaves Boston his service on the nineteenth of April
seventeen seventy five. The fifth of March to the nineteenth
of April. Warren, on the day after the delivery of
his oration March seventh, met with the Committee of Safety
in Cambridge, where the deliberations were uncommonly important, Cushing in
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Adams being named for the first time as having been
present the proceedings related to the proposed army. They were
of a similar character at the next meaning of the
Committee on the u s fourteenth, when a watch was
arranged to be kept in Charlestown, Cambridge and Roxbury, in
order that the committees of these towns might be ready
to send couriers forward to the towns where the magazines
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were placed. When sallies were made from the army by night.
According to Paul Revere, about thirty persons chiefly mechanics, had
agreed to watch the movements of British soldiers and the Tories.
These patriots met at the Green Dragon tavern in Union Street.
We are so careful, he says, that our meetings should
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be kept secret, that every time we met, every person
swore upon the Bible that they would not discover any
of our transactions. But to misters Hancock, Adams, doctors Warren, Church,
and one or two more, they took turns to watch
the soldiers two by two, by patrolling the streets all night.
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It was now a common remark that there was a
trader in the provincial Congress. At this time diminished were
assuring George the Third that the union of the colonies
could not last. And he said, on the day on
which Warren delivered his oration, I am convinced the line
adopted in American affairs will be crowned with success. At
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this time, Warren, as the organ of the Committee of Donations,
expressed the faith with which the patriots clung to unity
as the anchor of their safety, and the interest with
which they looked to the decision of Canada. Joseph Warren
to the Committee of Montreal Boston March fifteenth, seventeen seventy five,
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mister James Price and Alexander Hay at Montreal, gentlemen, so
handsome a donation as one hundred pounds four shillings, accompanied
by such an animated letter from our brethren at Montreal,
cannot fail to excite the warmest gratitude in the breast
of everyone who wishes prosperity and freedom in his country.
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The committee to whom your letter comes directed beg leave
as well on their account as in the name and
behalf of every virtuous man in the town, more especially
of the many thousands who are actually feeling the miseries
occasioned by the Boston Port Bill, to offer you their
most unfeigned thanks for this convincing proof of your sympathy
for the distresses of your fellow countrymen, and for your firm,
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disinterested attachment to the rights of your country. It affords
singular pleasure to every friend of virtue to find such
enlarged and generous sentiments as dictated your letter, discovering themselves
in places where the utmost diligence and most wicked devices
have been made use of to distinguish them. The religion
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lately established in Canada is but too well calculated to
banish every idea of freedom and to familiarize the mind
to slavery. But your letter is an agreeable instance how
tenacious men are of their rights when they clearly understand them.
We wish most heartily that sents like yours may be
diffused throughout your widely extended province to the utter extinction
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of every imposition, whether civil or religious. Your numbers are great,
and it is of course important to us whether you
are engaged for or against us. The decision of the
present controversy between Britain and the colonies will give happiness
or misery to America for years, perhaps for centuries. Unanimity
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and firmness form the only anchor on which we depend,
and we have the strongest assurances that can be given,
that the whole continents see with the same eyes and
are actuated by one soul. To war with brethren must
be shocking to every brave, every humane mind. But if
brethren and fellow subjects will suffer themselves to be instruments
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in the hands of tyrants to stab our constitution, every
tender idea must be forgot, and they must be repelled
with that heroic spirit which open enemies have experienced. Our
advocates are many, both in Europe and America. But the
importance of our prosperity makes it a duty to solicit
with earnestness for all the assistance and all the strength
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which the continent can give. The inhabitants of Montreal have
done worthily. May Heaven reward them, and while life lasts,
the memory of their kindness will never be effaced. From
the bosoms of the Committee of Donations Joseph Warren per Order.
The temper of the public mind was never firmer than
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it was in the month of March. The donations for
the relief of the poor continued to flow into Boston
as for a common cause. The letters accompanying them were
of the most resolute character, and the evidences multiplied that
the colonies would be one and indivisible. The tenor of
the reports from the mother country was thoroughly warlike. It
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was said in letters from England printed in the newspapers,
that the ministry were determined to presevere in the great
system of Americans taxation, and their reliance was on force.
It was the advice in these letters to the Americans
prepare for the worst, and presevere in the plan adopted
by Congress, for Heaven's sake, for your own sake and
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that of posterity, do not relax your vigilance. There was
the natural sequence of general and vigorous preparation for the
last resort. It was said in the press, in contending
for liberty, the Constitution should be held in one hand
and the sword in the other. Our union under providence
is the rock of our salvation. Such was the lofty
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spirit in the bosom of the American Republic in the
beginning of its grand historic life. On the twenty second
of March, the Provincial Congress renewed its session. It immediately
ordered a resolve to be printed which stated the necessity
of putting the colony in a complete state of defense,
and urged that any relaxation would be attended with the
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utmost danger to the liberties of the colony and to
all America. And for several days this body was occupied
with a consideration of the rules and regulations for a
constitutional army. Still there was no desire for war, but
the door was kept open for reconciliation. On the first
of April, Congress voted that if writs should be issued
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in the form as the law directs for calling a
general Assembly to be held in May. The towns ought
to obey the precepts instructing the members elect to transact
no business with the council appointed by mandamus. Thus was
evinced the resolution in Matters of Civil Government to adhere
to the advice of the Continental Congress, but provision was
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made for the election of a third Provincial Congress in
case such writs were not issued by Governor Gage. On
the second of April, a fresh arrival brought the decisive
intelligence that Parliament had pledged life and fortune to the
King for the subjections of America, that New England was
prohibited from the fisheries, and that reinforcements were on the
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way to General Gage. On the next day, Warren was
placed on a committee to require a full representation from
the towns when the following proclamation appeared in the Salem Gazette.
In Provincial Congress conquered April eighth, seventeen seventy five. Whereas
several members of this Congress are now absent by leave
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of the Congress, and as the important intelligence received by
the last vessels from Great Britain renders it necessary that
every member attended his duty. Resolved that the absent members
be directed forthwith to attend in this place, so that
the wisdom of the province may be collected. By order
of the Provincial Congress John Hancock, President, The soldiers now
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became more irritating than ever, and even the officers behaved
more like a parcel of children than like men. One
of the most conspicuous of the officers who disturbed the
meeting at the Old South was a captain of the
Royal Irish, who fared rather hard, for among those who
beset him was a woman who threatened to wring his nose.
Two days after occurred the well known case of tarring
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and feathering a citizen of bill Ricca by Colonel Nesbitt
and party. On the sixteenth, the day Warren's oration was published,
the officers made themselves merry in delivering a mock oration,
of which a letter gives a following account. A vast
number of officers assembled in King Street when they proceeded
to the choice of seven out of their number to
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represent the selectmen, the latter of whom with the moderator,
went into the coffeehouse balcony, where was provided a fellow
apparelled in a black gown with a rusty gray wig
and foxtail hanging to it, together with bands on, who
delivered an oration from the balcony to a crowd of
a few else besides gaping officers. It contained the most
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mischievous abuse of upon the characters of principal patriots, here
wholly made up of the most vile, profane blackguard language
as ever was expressed. This scirlius speech was printed. There
were acts of far more importance occurring every day in
the personal collisions occasioned by the seizures of all kinds
of military articles that the patriots endeavored to carry out
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of the town. Occasionally large detachments of the army were
marched into the country. On the thirtieth of March, the
ever vigiling Committee of Correspondence summoned the Little Senate the
committees of the neighboring towns to meet in their chamber
in Vaniel Hall at ten o'clock a m On the
next day to determine on measures of safety, saying in
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the summons, the wisdom of the joint committees has been
very conspicuous. The fullest exertion of the same wisdom is
necessary at this excited time. While engaged in this varied service,
Warren wrote the following letter, which contains one of those
brilliant sentences which has been much quoted to show the
spirit of the time. Bancroft places the words italicized in
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his text. The March of Earl Percy referred to in
the letter occasioned the meeting of the Committee of Correspondence, Boston,
April eighth, seventeen seventy five. Dear Sir, your favor of
the twenty first of December came opportunely to hand, as
it enabled me to give the Provincial Congress, now sitting
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at Conquered a just view of the measures pursued by
the tools of the administration, and effectually to guard them
against that state of security into which many have endeavored
to lull them. If we ever obtain a redress of
grievances from Great Britain, it must be by the influence
of these illustrious personages, whose virtue now keeps them out
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of power. The King never will bring them into power
until the ignorance and frenzy of the present administration make
the throne on which he sits shake under him. If
America is an humble instrument of the salvation of Britain,
it will give us the sincerest joy. But if Britain
must lose her liberty, she must lose it alone. America
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must and will be free. The contest may be severe,
the end will be glorious. We would not boast, but
we think. United and prepared as we are, we have
no reason to doubt of success if we should be
compelled to the last appeal. But we mean not to
make that appeal until we can be justified in doing
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it in the sight of God and man. Happy shall
we be if the mother country will allow us the
free enjoyment of our rights and indulge us in the
pleasing employment of aggrandizing her. The members for the Continental
Congress are almost all chosen by the several colonies. Indeed,
if any colony should neglect to choose members, it would
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be ruinous to it. All intercourse would immediately cease between
that colony and the whole continent. The first brigade of
the Army marched about four miles out of town three
days ago, under the command of a brigadier General, Earl Percy,
but as they marched without baggage or artillery, they did
not occasion so great an alarm as they otherwise would. Nevertheless,
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great numbers completely armed collected in the neighboring towns, and
it is the opinion of many that had they marched
eight or ten miles and attempted to destroy any magazines
or abuse the people, not a man of them would
have returned to Boston. The Congress immediately took proper measures
for restraining any unnecessary effusion of blood, and also passed
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proper resolves respecting the army if they should attempt to
come out of town with baggage and artillery. I beg
leave to recommend to your notice, mister Dana, the bearer
hereof a gentleman of the law, a man of sense
and probity, a true friend to his country, of a
respectable family and fortune. May Heaven bless you and reward
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your labours with success. I am, sir, with great respect,
your most obedient, humble servant, Joseph Warren to Arthur Lee, Esquire, London.
At this time Francis Dana, a lawyer and a patriot,
sailed for London and carried letters addressed to Franklin, describing
the colony since the resignation of the Mandamous counselors to
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have been as quiet and peaceable as any colony on
the continent, but in a state of most anxious suspense,
preparing for the worst. Much art and pains, doctor Cooper wrote,
have been employed to dismay us or provoke us to
some rash action. But hitherto the people have behaved with
astonishing calmness and resolution. The union and firmness of this
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and the other colonies have rather grown than diminished, and
they seem prepared for all events. Sent by mister Dana
a copy of his oration to Franklin with the following letter.
Joseph Warren to Benjamin Franklin, Boston, April eighth, seventeen seventy five, Sir,
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although I have not the pleasure either of a personal
or epistolary acquaintance with you, I have taken the liberty
of sending you, by mister Dana a pamphlet which I
wish was more deserving of your notice. The ability and
firmness with which you have defended the rights of mankind
and the liberties of this country in particular, have rendered
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you dear to all America. May you soon see your
enemies deprived of the power injuring you and your friends
in a situation to discover the grateful sense they have
of your exertions in the cause of freedom. I am, sir,
with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient, humble servant,
Joseph Warren, doctor Franklin. The Provincial Congress remained twelve days
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in session after the peremptory summons of the Act. Absent
members and Warren a part of the time at least
attended the meetings. On the seventh he was placed on
the Committee on the State of the Province. On the
recommendation of this committee, a resolve was passed providing for
delegations to repair forthwith to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire,
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asking their cooperation and quotas in raising an army for
the effectual security of New England and the continent. The
same committee prepared for their delegates instructions which dealt on
the importance of cementing and continuing that union which had
so happily taken place on this continent. Congress sent a
circular to the committees of the towns round Boston earnestly
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recommending that the militia and minutemen be put in the
best posture for defense, but said that the plans laid
for the general good obliged them to request that, whatever
patience and forbearance it might require for the present, the
Committee should act on the defense of only until the
further discretion of the U. S. Congress. They could not
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advise any measures that the enemies of the cause might
plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities. Having fixed on
the eleventh of May for a day of fasting in prayer,
and provided for reassembling on any pressing exigency, Congress on
the fifteenth of April adjourned. It was said in the
British papers that by the tenth of April an army
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of thirteen thousand with rendezvous in Boston, and that three
major generals were to be sent over to command it.
This report was copied into the Boston Journals. According to
a statement drawn up by Colonel William Heath and dated
the twentieth of March, there were at this time about
two thousand, eight hundred and fifty troops at Boston, who
were distributed in the following localities. Eighty in King Street,
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three hundred and forty on the Neck, four hundred at
Fort Hill, seventeen hundred on the Common, and three hundred
thirty at Castle William. The fortifications on the Neck are
said to have been skied, bekuilfully designed and thoroughly executed.
Reinforcements from England and other places were expected soon. There
was the feeling among the officers that the mere presence
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of the King's troops in the field would produce submission
to the Regulating Act, and that there would be no fighting.
In connection with this feeling was the allegation of cowardice.
Warren met this charge in the following, clear and temporately
worded note printed in his oration. It is written in
the repose of a heroic spirit who is deeply moved
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at the insults that were heaped on his countrymen, the
patients with which this people have borne, the injuries which
have been heaped upon them, and their unwillingness to take
any sanguinary measures, has very injudiciously been ascribed to cowardice
by persons both here and in Great Britain. I most
heartily wish that an opinion so erroneous in itself and
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so fatal in its consequences, might be utterly removed before
it is too late. And I think nothing further net
necessary to convince every intelligent man that the conduct of
this people is owing to the tender regard which they
have for their fellow men and an utter abhorrence to
the shedding of human blood, than a little attention to
their general temper and disposition discovered when they cannot be
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supposed to be under any apprehension of danger to themselves.
I will only mention the universal detestation which they show
to every act of cruelty by whom and upon whomsoever committed,
the mild spirit of their laws, the very few crimes
to which capital penalties are annexed, and the very great
backwardness which both courts and juries discover in condemning persons
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charged with capital crimes. But if any should think this
observation not to the purpose, I readily appeal to those
gentlemen in the army who have been in the camp
or in the field with the Americans. It was now
expected that General Gage would order arrests of the popular leaders.
It was said that Parliament would pass bills of attainder
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against the Bostonians, and the aspect of affairs became so
serious that a number of families moved into the country
and carried with them their valuable effects. Samuel Adams and
John Hancock were persuaded to retire to the residence of
Reverend Jonas Clark, a patriotic clergyman in Lexington. It is
one of the doubtful stories of the time that the
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officers formed a scheme to seize Adams, Hancock and Warren,
which an accident frustrated Warren's friends felt apprehensions for his safety.
As one of his students, doctor Eustace, returned home one evening,
he passed a party of officers who appeared to be
on the watch, and he advised Warren not to visit
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his patients that evening. But Warren, putting his pistols in
his pocket, replied, I have a visit to make to
missus in Cornhill this evening, and I will go at once.
Come with me. It was about this time when he
was moved by the taunts which the officers were uttering,
that he said to Eustace, these fellows say we won't fight.
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By heavens, I hope I shall die up to my
knees in blood. One day he was passing the place
at the neck where the gallows stood, and met three officers,
one of whom insultingly said, go on, Warren, you will
soon come to the gallows. Warren turned, walked up to
the officers and calmly asked who it was that uttered
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those words, but received no reply. Warren did not attend
the meetings of the Committee of Safety in April they
held their sessions at Conquered. The absence, doubtless was for
weighty reasons. He had resolved to abandon his profession and
enter the army, and as the crisis approached, he devoted
some time each day to a regular practice of the
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manual exercise. His letters showed that he watched narrowly the
motions of the army, as he knew their numbers, knew
also the preparations for self defense that had been matured
by the patriots. He was confident that in the case
offensive operations were attempted, the militia would appear in the
field in sufficient numbers to defeat them. The organization of
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a watch and of couriers to alarm the country by
the Committee of Safety have been already stated General Gage
sent two officers disguised as farmers into the interior to
ascertain the places where the provincials had gathered, stores, sites
for encampments, and the state of the country. They, though
narrowly watched by the patriots, succeeded in their object, and,
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besides an interesting narrative showing the spirit of the people,
they presented to General Gauge a rudely sketched map of
the roads as far as conquered. In Worcester. It was
now April fourth, said in the journals that a considerable
number of army wagons were ready for use, that blacksmiths
were employed in making crow's feet, and the army seemed
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to be preparing for a march. A week later, it
was suggested that Worcester would be the point to which
the army would march, with the view to protect the
courts under the Regulating Act. A New York letter, in
remarking on the probability that the troops would take the field,
said to the Massachusetts patriots, for Heaven's sake, be watchful
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and firm, as all under God depends on your conduct.
At this time, the policy of disarming the people had
been acted on, though it had not been followed up
very energetically. The indications now were that this policy would
be carried out in earnest On Friday, the fourteenth of April,
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the Somerset Frigate was moored in Charles River between Boston
and Charlestown, and on the next day the grenadiers and
light infantry were taken off duty on the pretext of
learning a new exercise, and the transports were hauled near
the sterns of the men of war. These movements appeared
so suspicious that on the following day, Sunday, Warren sent
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Paul Revere to Lexington with intelligence of these changes for
the guidance of Hancock and Adams. On the next day,
preparations were made for a removal of the portion of
the stores that conquered little to attract the special attention
of the vigilant patriots occurred on Monday. Though they were
expecting something serious to be transacted, it happened that on
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the day fifteenth, on which the movements in Boston attracted attention,
Lord Dartmouth wrote to General Gage that all the cannon,
small arms, and military stores that might be either in
any magazine or secreted by the patriots ought to be seized,
and all who, in the opinion of His Majesty's Attorney
and Solicitor General, had committed acts of treason ought to
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be arrested. On Tuesday evening the eighteenth, it was observed
that troops were marching towards the bottom of the Common,
and a vigilant patriot informed Warren of the fact, who
immediately sent will Wlliam Dawes by way of Roxbury to
Lexington to inform Hancock and Adams. About ten o'clock, Warren
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sent an earnest message for Paul Revere, who went to
the patriot's house. Revere says Warren begged that I would
immediately set off for Lexington to mister Hancock and Adams
and acquaint them of the movement, and that it was
thought that they were the objects. At half past ten
o'clock that night, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, with about eight hundred
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grenadiers and light infantry, embarked in longboats at the foot
of the Commons and moved over Charles River in the
direction of Phipps Farm or Leechmere's Point, on a secret
expedition to destroy the stores collected at Conquered and it
was reported to seize Hancock and Adams. General Gage this evening,
Steedman says, told Lord Percy that he intended to send
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a detachment to seize the stores at Conquered and to
give the command to Colonel Smith, who knew he was
to go, but not where. He meant it to be
a secret expedition, and begged of Lord Percy to keep
it a profound secret. As this nobleman was passing from
the General's quarters home to his own, perceiving eight or
ten men conversing together on the common, he made up
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to them when one of the men said, the British
troops have marched, but will miss their aim. What aim,
said Lord Percy? Why? The man replied, the canon had conquered.
Lord Percy immediately returned on his steps and acquainted General Gage,
not without marks of surprise and disapprobation with what he
had just heard. The General said that his confidence had
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been betrayed, for that he had communicated his design to
one person only besides his lordship. Gordon says, when the
corps was nearly ready to proceed upon the expedition, Doctor Warren,
by a mere accident, had notice of it just in time.
To send messengers over the neck and across the ferry
on to Lexington, before the orders for preventing every person's
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quitting the town were executed. The lights of the watchfires,
the sounds of the bells, and the signal guns proclaimed
the faithfulness with which Warren's messengers did their work. I
need not follow Colonel Smith's progress into the country on
this memorable night until at half past four on the
morning of the nineteenth of April. His advance fired on
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the company of provincials who paraded at Lexington under Captain Parker,
and then passed on to Conquered, which the detachment reached
about seven Nor need I relate the remarkable rapidity with
which the agencies which the Committee of Safety had organized
did the work of alarming the militia, or the prompt
response to the summons which occasioned the roads leading to
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Conquered in Lexington to swarm with the minutemen. It is
only necessary to relate Warren's connection with the events of
this extraordinary day. A special messenger early in the morning
brought to Warren the intelligence of the events that occurred
in the morning at Lexington. His soul beat to arms,
Doctor Elliot says, as soon as he learned the intention
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of the British troops, and he now called in mister Eustace,
his student, directed him to take care of his patients,
mounted his horse and departed for the scene of action.
He rode to the Charlestown Ferry. The last person to
whom he spoke as he entered the boat was the
grandfather of the late John r Aiden of Boston, and
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Warren said as they parted, keep up a brave heart.
They have begun it that either party can do, and
will end it that only one can do. On the
way through Charlestown he met doctor Welch, a resident who
says eight o'clock in the morning saw doctor Joseph Warren
just come out of Boston horseback. I said, well, they
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are gone out, yes, he said, and we will be
up with them before night. Jacob Rogers, another resident of Charlestown, says,
we were alarmed with various reports concerning the King's troops,
which put everybody in confusion. About ten in the morning
I met doctor Warren riding hastily out of town and
asked him if the news was true of the men
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being killed at Lexington. He assured me it was. He
rode on. Between nine and ten o'clock, Lord Percy began
his march by the way of Roxbury to reinforce Colonel Smith.
His column passed through Cambridge, and, according to doctor Welch,
who appears to have accompanied Warren a short time, they
were near this force, two soldiers, doctor Welch says, going
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to Lexington, tried to steal Watson's horse at Watson's Corner,
the old man with his cat and hat pulling one
way and the soldiers the other. Doctor Warren rode up
and helped drive them off. Tried to pass Percy's column,
stopped by bayonets. Two British officers rode up to Doctor
Warren in the rear of the British, inquiring where are
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the troops. The doctor did not know. They were greatly alarmed.
Went home, and doctor Welch, who returned to Charlestown, relates
nothing further that transpired that day until the afternoon. A
meeting of the Committee of Safety was notified to be
held at mister Weatherby's at the Black Horse in Monotony,
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or West Cambridge, and Watson's Corner was on the route
to this place. There is no record of the proceedings
of the Committee on this day, but the fact is
stated that the committee met General Heath, a member who
was present at this meeting, and on leaving it in
the morning went by a cross road over to Watertown,
and the British being in possession of the Lexington Road.
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Warren undoubtedly was present at this meeting of the Committee.
I am unable to locate him for several hours, or
until in the afternoon, about the time Lord Percy's column
rescued Colonel Smith's party from entire destruction, which was at
two o'clock. The Provincial Congress had clothed the members of
the Committee of Safety with the power, in case of
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offensive operations, to summon the militia into the field, and
they therefore were the center of authority. Warren, in the
relations of the day, is spoken of as the chairman
of the committee. In Boston, Hancock was the chairman of
the whole committee, and Samuel Adams met twice with them. Now,
the Provincial Congress, anxious to conform to the recommendations of
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the Continental Congress, had cautioned the committees of the towns
to exercise the utmost forbearance in the great matter of
commencing hostilities, and this had been impressed on the towns
by the Committee of Safety. This fact has a bearing
on what took place at half past four on the
morning of this day at Lexington, and again at between
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nine and ten at Conquered Bridge. It was considered of
great consequence to be able to establish the fact that
the British fired first, thus to make it clear to
the tribunal of the world that they were the immediate aggressors,
and to save the Colony of Massachusetts from the judgment
of having acted inconsiderately. Nothing could have been easier than
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for the militia, who had assembled in large numbers and
conquered after the firing at Conquered Bridge, to have destroyed
a British party of about one hundred men who were
at a great distance from the main body. But they
were allowed to return over the bridge where the firing
took place. From four o'clock in the morning, couriers were
flying in every direction from Lexington, and it is not
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improbable that the military officers before twelve o'clock had the
advice of the Committee of Safety. Adams and Hancock were
on the ground and could have given immediate directions. They
were persuaded to retire to what was then known as
the Second Precinct of Wooburn now Burlington, about two miles
from Reverend Jonas Clark's house. I am not able to
(32:54):
say whether Adams and Warren met on this memorable day,
but they surely were not far apart. It is a
fine day, Adams remarked, as he was walking in the
field after the day had dawned. Very pleasant, answered one
of his companions, supposing him to be contemplating the beauties
of the sky. I mean, he replied, this day is
(33:15):
a glorious day for America. So fearless was he of consequences,
Doctor Eliot says, so intrepid in the midst of danger,
so eager to look forward to the luster of events
that would succeed the gloom which then involved the minds
of the people. Warren. About the time Lord Percy met
Colonel Smith rejoined General Heath as the latter was taking
(33:37):
a crossroad leading from Watertown to Lexington on his way
to assume the command of the militia, and the two
kept together during the afternoon. There had been no hesitation
on the part of the minutemen after the British troops
about twelve o'clock set out on their return from conquered.
Before they had left the town, the battle of the
day began in Earnest an incessant though irregular fire. A
(34:00):
British officer writes of the British troops which was kept
up during the whole of their march back to Lexington,
in which they were driven before the Americans like sheep.
At that place they were met by the detachment under
Lord Percy with two pieces of cannon. The two detachments
rested on their arms and received some refreshment. Lord Percy
(34:21):
now formed his detachment into a square, in which he
enclosed Colonel Smith's party, who were so much exhausted with
fatigue that they were obliged to lie down for rest
on the ground, their tongues hanging out of their mouths
like those of dogs. After a chase, Lord Percy had
now about eighteen hundred troops under him. On renewing his retreat,
(34:45):
he was closely pursued as he went through West Cambridge.
The firing was very sharp in this battle. Heath says,
I was several times greatly exposed, in particular at the
high Grounds at the upper end of Monotomy, West Cambridge,
and also on the plain below the meetinghouse. On the
latter Doctor Joseph Warren. Afterwards Major General Warren, who kept
(35:10):
constantly near me, and then but a few feet distant,
a musket ball from the enemy came so near his
head as to strike the pin out of the hair
of his ear lock. On this plane, Doctor Olliphilet Downer,
in single combat with a British soldier, killed him on
the spot by thrusting him nearly through the body with
his bayonet. Authorities agree in stating that the firing was
(35:34):
severe on that portion of West Cambridge known as the Plane.
The reference to Warren's service here in Boyle's eulogy, printed
in seventeen eighty one, shows the impression which his bearing
made on his countrymen. Again, the conflict glows with rage,
severe and fearless ranks in combat mixed the peer victory uncertain,
(35:56):
fierce contention, reiins and purple rivers drench the slippery plains,
calumn to collum, host to host a pose, and rush
impetuous on their adverse foes. When lo the hero Warren
from Afar sought for the battle and the field of
war from rank to rank. The daring warrior flies and
(36:19):
bids the thunder of the battle rise. Sudden arrangements of
his troops are made, and sudden movements round the plain
displayed Columbia's genius in her polished shield gleams bright and
dreadful o'er the hostile field. Her ardent troops enraptured with
the sight with shock resistless, forced the dubious fight. Britons astonished,
(36:44):
tremble at the sight, and all confused precipitate their flight.
The Minutemen continued to harass the retreating troops as they
left the plain. After they entered the portion of Charlestown
which is now Somerville, and were moving from Prospect Hill
along the road by the bay that makes up from
Charles River. Their position was again critical for a force
(37:08):
of several hundred militia from Essex County were on or
near Winter Hill and threatened to cut them off. The militia,
heath says, continued to hang on the rear of the
British until they reached Bunker Hill in Charlestown, and it
had become so dusk as to render the flashes of
the muskets very visible. Bunker Hill is the nearest hill
(37:29):
to the mainland within the peninsula of Charlestown, and here
the British commander formed a line and covered by his ships,
prepared to make a stand. General Heath was now on
a plot of ground known as the common, just outside
of the peninsula, and he says Warren kept near him.
Here the order was given for the militia to discontinue
(37:50):
the pursuit and return to Cambridge. General Heath now held
the first Council of War of the Revolution at the
foot of Prospect Hill. It is said of warm by
la that he was perhaps the most active man in
the field, by Knapp that the people were delighted with
his cool, collected bravery, and already considered him as a
leader whose gallantry they were to admire and in whose
(38:13):
talents they were to confide. By Morton that he appeared
in the field under the united characters of the general,
the soldier and the physician. Here he was seen animating
his countrymen to battle and fighting by their side, And
there he was found administering healing comforts to the wounded.
And by Tutor that he would be regarded as the
(38:35):
personal representative of those brave citizens who, with arms hastily
collected sprang from their peaceable homes to resist aggression, and
on the plains of Lexington and heights of Charlestown, cemented
with their blood the foundation of American liberty. End of
Chapter fourteen.
Chapter fourteen of Life and Times of Joseph Warren by
Richard Frotingham. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
On the nineteenth of April, the Committee of Safety, Warren's Letters,
the Second Provincial Congress, Military Preparations, Warren's vigilance, Colonel Smith's expedition.
(00:27):
Warren leaves Boston his service on the nineteenth of April
seventeen seventy five. The fifth of March to the nineteenth
of April. Warren, on the day after the delivery of
his oration March seventh, met with the Committee of Safety
in Cambridge, where the deliberations were uncommonly important, Cushing in
(00:49):
Adams being named for the first time as having been
present the proceedings related to the proposed army. They were
of a similar character at the next meaning of the
Committee on the u s fourteenth, when a watch was
arranged to be kept in Charlestown, Cambridge and Roxbury, in
order that the committees of these towns might be ready
to send couriers forward to the towns where the magazines
(01:11):
were placed. When sallies were made from the army by night.
According to Paul Revere, about thirty persons chiefly mechanics, had
agreed to watch the movements of British soldiers and the Tories.
These patriots met at the Green Dragon tavern in Union Street.
We are so careful, he says, that our meetings should
(01:32):
be kept secret, that every time we met, every person
swore upon the Bible that they would not discover any
of our transactions. But to misters Hancock, Adams, doctors Warren, Church,
and one or two more, they took turns to watch
the soldiers two by two, by patrolling the streets all night.
(01:53):
It was now a common remark that there was a
trader in the provincial Congress. At this time diminished were
assuring George the Third that the union of the colonies
could not last. And he said, on the day on
which Warren delivered his oration, I am convinced the line
adopted in American affairs will be crowned with success. At
(02:15):
this time, Warren, as the organ of the Committee of Donations,
expressed the faith with which the patriots clung to unity
as the anchor of their safety, and the interest with
which they looked to the decision of Canada. Joseph Warren
to the Committee of Montreal Boston March fifteenth, seventeen seventy five,
(02:38):
mister James Price and Alexander Hay at Montreal, gentlemen, so
handsome a donation as one hundred pounds four shillings, accompanied
by such an animated letter from our brethren at Montreal,
cannot fail to excite the warmest gratitude in the breast
of everyone who wishes prosperity and freedom in his country.
(02:58):
The committee to whom your letter comes directed beg leave
as well on their account as in the name and
behalf of every virtuous man in the town, more especially
of the many thousands who are actually feeling the miseries
occasioned by the Boston Port Bill, to offer you their
most unfeigned thanks for this convincing proof of your sympathy
for the distresses of your fellow countrymen, and for your firm,
(03:22):
disinterested attachment to the rights of your country. It affords
singular pleasure to every friend of virtue to find such
enlarged and generous sentiments as dictated your letter, discovering themselves
in places where the utmost diligence and most wicked devices
have been made use of to distinguish them. The religion
(03:43):
lately established in Canada is but too well calculated to
banish every idea of freedom and to familiarize the mind
to slavery. But your letter is an agreeable instance how
tenacious men are of their rights when they clearly understand them.
We wish most heartily that sents like yours may be
diffused throughout your widely extended province to the utter extinction
(04:05):
of every imposition, whether civil or religious. Your numbers are great,
and it is of course important to us whether you
are engaged for or against us. The decision of the
present controversy between Britain and the colonies will give happiness
or misery to America for years, perhaps for centuries. Unanimity
(04:26):
and firmness form the only anchor on which we depend,
and we have the strongest assurances that can be given,
that the whole continents see with the same eyes and
are actuated by one soul. To war with brethren must
be shocking to every brave, every humane mind. But if
brethren and fellow subjects will suffer themselves to be instruments
(04:47):
in the hands of tyrants to stab our constitution, every
tender idea must be forgot, and they must be repelled
with that heroic spirit which open enemies have experienced. Our
advocates are many, both in Europe and America. But the
importance of our prosperity makes it a duty to solicit
with earnestness for all the assistance and all the strength
(05:09):
which the continent can give. The inhabitants of Montreal have
done worthily. May Heaven reward them, and while life lasts,
the memory of their kindness will never be effaced. From
the bosoms of the Committee of Donations Joseph Warren per Order.
The temper of the public mind was never firmer than
(05:30):
it was in the month of March. The donations for
the relief of the poor continued to flow into Boston
as for a common cause. The letters accompanying them were
of the most resolute character, and the evidences multiplied that
the colonies would be one and indivisible. The tenor of
the reports from the mother country was thoroughly warlike. It
(05:51):
was said in letters from England printed in the newspapers,
that the ministry were determined to presevere in the great
system of Americans taxation, and their reliance was on force.
It was the advice in these letters to the Americans
prepare for the worst, and presevere in the plan adopted
by Congress, for Heaven's sake, for your own sake and
(06:14):
that of posterity, do not relax your vigilance. There was
the natural sequence of general and vigorous preparation for the
last resort. It was said in the press, in contending
for liberty, the Constitution should be held in one hand
and the sword in the other. Our union under providence
is the rock of our salvation. Such was the lofty
(06:37):
spirit in the bosom of the American Republic in the
beginning of its grand historic life. On the twenty second
of March, the Provincial Congress renewed its session. It immediately
ordered a resolve to be printed which stated the necessity
of putting the colony in a complete state of defense,
and urged that any relaxation would be attended with the
(06:58):
utmost danger to the liberties of the colony and to
all America. And for several days this body was occupied
with a consideration of the rules and regulations for a
constitutional army. Still there was no desire for war, but
the door was kept open for reconciliation. On the first
of April, Congress voted that if writs should be issued
(07:21):
in the form as the law directs for calling a
general Assembly to be held in May. The towns ought
to obey the precepts instructing the members elect to transact
no business with the council appointed by mandamus. Thus was
evinced the resolution in Matters of Civil Government to adhere
to the advice of the Continental Congress, but provision was
(07:44):
made for the election of a third Provincial Congress in
case such writs were not issued by Governor Gage. On
the second of April, a fresh arrival brought the decisive
intelligence that Parliament had pledged life and fortune to the
King for the subjections of America, that New England was
prohibited from the fisheries, and that reinforcements were on the
(08:05):
way to General Gage. On the next day, Warren was
placed on a committee to require a full representation from
the towns when the following proclamation appeared in the Salem Gazette.
In Provincial Congress conquered April eighth, seventeen seventy five. Whereas
several members of this Congress are now absent by leave
(08:27):
of the Congress, and as the important intelligence received by
the last vessels from Great Britain renders it necessary that
every member attended his duty. Resolved that the absent members
be directed forthwith to attend in this place, so that
the wisdom of the province may be collected. By order
of the Provincial Congress John Hancock, President, The soldiers now
(08:51):
became more irritating than ever, and even the officers behaved
more like a parcel of children than like men. One
of the most conspicuous of the officers who disturbed the
meeting at the Old South was a captain of the
Royal Irish, who fared rather hard, for among those who
beset him was a woman who threatened to wring his nose.
Two days after occurred the well known case of tarring
(09:15):
and feathering a citizen of bill Ricca by Colonel Nesbitt
and party. On the sixteenth, the day Warren's oration was published,
the officers made themselves merry in delivering a mock oration,
of which a letter gives a following account. A vast
number of officers assembled in King Street when they proceeded
to the choice of seven out of their number to
(09:37):
represent the selectmen, the latter of whom with the moderator,
went into the coffeehouse balcony, where was provided a fellow
apparelled in a black gown with a rusty gray wig
and foxtail hanging to it, together with bands on, who
delivered an oration from the balcony to a crowd of
a few else besides gaping officers. It contained the most
(09:58):
mischievous abuse of upon the characters of principal patriots, here
wholly made up of the most vile, profane blackguard language
as ever was expressed. This scirlius speech was printed. There
were acts of far more importance occurring every day in
the personal collisions occasioned by the seizures of all kinds
of military articles that the patriots endeavored to carry out
(10:21):
of the town. Occasionally large detachments of the army were
marched into the country. On the thirtieth of March, the
ever vigiling Committee of Correspondence summoned the Little Senate the
committees of the neighboring towns to meet in their chamber
in Vaniel Hall at ten o'clock a m On the
next day to determine on measures of safety, saying in
(10:43):
the summons, the wisdom of the joint committees has been
very conspicuous. The fullest exertion of the same wisdom is
necessary at this excited time. While engaged in this varied service,
Warren wrote the following letter, which contains one of those
brilliant sentences which has been much quoted to show the
spirit of the time. Bancroft places the words italicized in
(11:08):
his text. The March of Earl Percy referred to in
the letter occasioned the meeting of the Committee of Correspondence, Boston,
April eighth, seventeen seventy five. Dear Sir, your favor of
the twenty first of December came opportunely to hand, as
it enabled me to give the Provincial Congress, now sitting
(11:30):
at Conquered a just view of the measures pursued by
the tools of the administration, and effectually to guard them
against that state of security into which many have endeavored
to lull them. If we ever obtain a redress of
grievances from Great Britain, it must be by the influence
of these illustrious personages, whose virtue now keeps them out
(11:52):
of power. The King never will bring them into power
until the ignorance and frenzy of the present administration make
the throne on which he sits shake under him. If
America is an humble instrument of the salvation of Britain,
it will give us the sincerest joy. But if Britain
must lose her liberty, she must lose it alone. America
(12:14):
must and will be free. The contest may be severe,
the end will be glorious. We would not boast, but
we think. United and prepared as we are, we have
no reason to doubt of success if we should be
compelled to the last appeal. But we mean not to
make that appeal until we can be justified in doing
(12:36):
it in the sight of God and man. Happy shall
we be if the mother country will allow us the
free enjoyment of our rights and indulge us in the
pleasing employment of aggrandizing her. The members for the Continental
Congress are almost all chosen by the several colonies. Indeed,
if any colony should neglect to choose members, it would
(12:58):
be ruinous to it. All intercourse would immediately cease between
that colony and the whole continent. The first brigade of
the Army marched about four miles out of town three
days ago, under the command of a brigadier General, Earl Percy,
but as they marched without baggage or artillery, they did
not occasion so great an alarm as they otherwise would. Nevertheless,
(13:22):
great numbers completely armed collected in the neighboring towns, and
it is the opinion of many that had they marched
eight or ten miles and attempted to destroy any magazines
or abuse the people, not a man of them would
have returned to Boston. The Congress immediately took proper measures
for restraining any unnecessary effusion of blood, and also passed
(13:45):
proper resolves respecting the army if they should attempt to
come out of town with baggage and artillery. I beg
leave to recommend to your notice, mister Dana, the bearer
hereof a gentleman of the law, a man of sense
and probity, a true friend to his country, of a
respectable family and fortune. May Heaven bless you and reward
(14:06):
your labours with success. I am, sir, with great respect,
your most obedient, humble servant, Joseph Warren to Arthur Lee, Esquire, London.
At this time Francis Dana, a lawyer and a patriot,
sailed for London and carried letters addressed to Franklin, describing
the colony since the resignation of the Mandamous counselors to
(14:29):
have been as quiet and peaceable as any colony on
the continent, but in a state of most anxious suspense,
preparing for the worst. Much art and pains, doctor Cooper wrote,
have been employed to dismay us or provoke us to
some rash action. But hitherto the people have behaved with
astonishing calmness and resolution. The union and firmness of this
(14:53):
and the other colonies have rather grown than diminished, and
they seem prepared for all events. Sent by mister Dana
a copy of his oration to Franklin with the following letter.
Joseph Warren to Benjamin Franklin, Boston, April eighth, seventeen seventy five, Sir,
(15:13):
although I have not the pleasure either of a personal
or epistolary acquaintance with you, I have taken the liberty
of sending you, by mister Dana a pamphlet which I
wish was more deserving of your notice. The ability and
firmness with which you have defended the rights of mankind
and the liberties of this country in particular, have rendered
(15:33):
you dear to all America. May you soon see your
enemies deprived of the power injuring you and your friends
in a situation to discover the grateful sense they have
of your exertions in the cause of freedom. I am, sir,
with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient, humble servant,
Joseph Warren, doctor Franklin. The Provincial Congress remained twelve days
(15:57):
in session after the peremptory summons of the Act. Absent
members and Warren a part of the time at least
attended the meetings. On the seventh he was placed on
the Committee on the State of the Province. On the
recommendation of this committee, a resolve was passed providing for
delegations to repair forthwith to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire,
(16:18):
asking their cooperation and quotas in raising an army for
the effectual security of New England and the continent. The
same committee prepared for their delegates instructions which dealt on
the importance of cementing and continuing that union which had
so happily taken place on this continent. Congress sent a
circular to the committees of the towns round Boston earnestly
(16:41):
recommending that the militia and minutemen be put in the
best posture for defense, but said that the plans laid
for the general good obliged them to request that, whatever
patience and forbearance it might require for the present, the
Committee should act on the defense of only until the
further discretion of the U. S. Congress. They could not
(17:02):
advise any measures that the enemies of the cause might
plausibly interpret as a commencement of hostilities. Having fixed on
the eleventh of May for a day of fasting in prayer,
and provided for reassembling on any pressing exigency, Congress on
the fifteenth of April adjourned. It was said in the
British papers that by the tenth of April an army
(17:24):
of thirteen thousand with rendezvous in Boston, and that three
major generals were to be sent over to command it.
This report was copied into the Boston Journals. According to
a statement drawn up by Colonel William Heath and dated
the twentieth of March, there were at this time about
two thousand, eight hundred and fifty troops at Boston, who
were distributed in the following localities. Eighty in King Street,
(17:48):
three hundred and forty on the Neck, four hundred at
Fort Hill, seventeen hundred on the Common, and three hundred
thirty at Castle William. The fortifications on the Neck are
said to have been skied, bekuilfully designed and thoroughly executed.
Reinforcements from England and other places were expected soon. There
was the feeling among the officers that the mere presence
(18:10):
of the King's troops in the field would produce submission
to the Regulating Act, and that there would be no fighting.
In connection with this feeling was the allegation of cowardice.
Warren met this charge in the following, clear and temporately
worded note printed in his oration. It is written in
the repose of a heroic spirit who is deeply moved
(18:31):
at the insults that were heaped on his countrymen, the
patients with which this people have borne, the injuries which
have been heaped upon them, and their unwillingness to take
any sanguinary measures, has very injudiciously been ascribed to cowardice
by persons both here and in Great Britain. I most
heartily wish that an opinion so erroneous in itself and
(18:53):
so fatal in its consequences, might be utterly removed before
it is too late. And I think nothing further net
necessary to convince every intelligent man that the conduct of
this people is owing to the tender regard which they
have for their fellow men and an utter abhorrence to
the shedding of human blood, than a little attention to
their general temper and disposition discovered when they cannot be
(19:17):
supposed to be under any apprehension of danger to themselves.
I will only mention the universal detestation which they show
to every act of cruelty by whom and upon whomsoever committed,
the mild spirit of their laws, the very few crimes
to which capital penalties are annexed, and the very great
backwardness which both courts and juries discover in condemning persons
(19:41):
charged with capital crimes. But if any should think this
observation not to the purpose, I readily appeal to those
gentlemen in the army who have been in the camp
or in the field with the Americans. It was now
expected that General Gage would order arrests of the popular leaders.
It was said that Parliament would pass bills of attainder
(20:02):
against the Bostonians, and the aspect of affairs became so
serious that a number of families moved into the country
and carried with them their valuable effects. Samuel Adams and
John Hancock were persuaded to retire to the residence of
Reverend Jonas Clark, a patriotic clergyman in Lexington. It is
one of the doubtful stories of the time that the
(20:25):
officers formed a scheme to seize Adams, Hancock and Warren,
which an accident frustrated Warren's friends felt apprehensions for his safety.
As one of his students, doctor Eustace, returned home one evening,
he passed a party of officers who appeared to be
on the watch, and he advised Warren not to visit
(20:45):
his patients that evening. But Warren, putting his pistols in
his pocket, replied, I have a visit to make to
missus in Cornhill this evening, and I will go at once.
Come with me. It was about this time when he
was moved by the taunts which the officers were uttering,
that he said to Eustace, these fellows say we won't fight.
(21:06):
By heavens, I hope I shall die up to my
knees in blood. One day he was passing the place
at the neck where the gallows stood, and met three officers,
one of whom insultingly said, go on, Warren, you will
soon come to the gallows. Warren turned, walked up to
the officers and calmly asked who it was that uttered
(21:26):
those words, but received no reply. Warren did not attend
the meetings of the Committee of Safety in April they
held their sessions at Conquered. The absence, doubtless was for
weighty reasons. He had resolved to abandon his profession and
enter the army, and as the crisis approached, he devoted
some time each day to a regular practice of the
(21:48):
manual exercise. His letters showed that he watched narrowly the
motions of the army, as he knew their numbers, knew
also the preparations for self defense that had been matured
by the patriots. He was confident that in the case
offensive operations were attempted, the militia would appear in the
field in sufficient numbers to defeat them. The organization of
(22:11):
a watch and of couriers to alarm the country by
the Committee of Safety have been already stated General Gage
sent two officers disguised as farmers into the interior to
ascertain the places where the provincials had gathered, stores, sites
for encampments, and the state of the country. They, though
narrowly watched by the patriots, succeeded in their object, and,
(22:35):
besides an interesting narrative showing the spirit of the people,
they presented to General Gauge a rudely sketched map of
the roads as far as conquered. In Worcester. It was
now April fourth, said in the journals that a considerable
number of army wagons were ready for use, that blacksmiths
were employed in making crow's feet, and the army seemed
(22:57):
to be preparing for a march. A week later, it
was suggested that Worcester would be the point to which
the army would march, with the view to protect the
courts under the Regulating Act. A New York letter, in
remarking on the probability that the troops would take the field,
said to the Massachusetts patriots, for Heaven's sake, be watchful
(23:17):
and firm, as all under God depends on your conduct.
At this time, the policy of disarming the people had
been acted on, though it had not been followed up
very energetically. The indications now were that this policy would
be carried out in earnest On Friday, the fourteenth of April,
(23:38):
the Somerset Frigate was moored in Charles River between Boston
and Charlestown, and on the next day the grenadiers and
light infantry were taken off duty on the pretext of
learning a new exercise, and the transports were hauled near
the sterns of the men of war. These movements appeared
so suspicious that on the following day, Sunday, Warren sent
(24:00):
Paul Revere to Lexington with intelligence of these changes for
the guidance of Hancock and Adams. On the next day,
preparations were made for a removal of the portion of
the stores that conquered little to attract the special attention
of the vigilant patriots occurred on Monday. Though they were
expecting something serious to be transacted, it happened that on
(24:23):
the day fifteenth, on which the movements in Boston attracted attention,
Lord Dartmouth wrote to General Gage that all the cannon,
small arms, and military stores that might be either in
any magazine or secreted by the patriots ought to be seized,
and all who, in the opinion of His Majesty's Attorney
and Solicitor General, had committed acts of treason ought to
(24:46):
be arrested. On Tuesday evening the eighteenth, it was observed
that troops were marching towards the bottom of the Common,
and a vigilant patriot informed Warren of the fact, who
immediately sent will Wlliam Dawes by way of Roxbury to
Lexington to inform Hancock and Adams. About ten o'clock, Warren
(25:07):
sent an earnest message for Paul Revere, who went to
the patriot's house. Revere says Warren begged that I would
immediately set off for Lexington to mister Hancock and Adams
and acquaint them of the movement, and that it was
thought that they were the objects. At half past ten
o'clock that night, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, with about eight hundred
(25:28):
grenadiers and light infantry, embarked in longboats at the foot
of the Commons and moved over Charles River in the
direction of Phipps Farm or Leechmere's Point, on a secret
expedition to destroy the stores collected at Conquered and it
was reported to seize Hancock and Adams. General Gage this evening,
Steedman says, told Lord Percy that he intended to send
(25:52):
a detachment to seize the stores at Conquered and to
give the command to Colonel Smith, who knew he was
to go, but not where. He meant it to be
a secret expedition, and begged of Lord Percy to keep
it a profound secret. As this nobleman was passing from
the General's quarters home to his own, perceiving eight or
ten men conversing together on the common, he made up
(26:15):
to them when one of the men said, the British
troops have marched, but will miss their aim. What aim,
said Lord Percy? Why? The man replied, the canon had conquered.
Lord Percy immediately returned on his steps and acquainted General Gage,
not without marks of surprise and disapprobation with what he
had just heard. The General said that his confidence had
(26:39):
been betrayed, for that he had communicated his design to
one person only besides his lordship. Gordon says, when the
corps was nearly ready to proceed upon the expedition, Doctor Warren,
by a mere accident, had notice of it just in time.
To send messengers over the neck and across the ferry
on to Lexington, before the orders for preventing every person's
(27:02):
quitting the town were executed. The lights of the watchfires,
the sounds of the bells, and the signal guns proclaimed
the faithfulness with which Warren's messengers did their work. I
need not follow Colonel Smith's progress into the country on
this memorable night until at half past four on the
morning of the nineteenth of April. His advance fired on
(27:25):
the company of provincials who paraded at Lexington under Captain Parker,
and then passed on to Conquered, which the detachment reached
about seven Nor need I relate the remarkable rapidity with
which the agencies which the Committee of Safety had organized
did the work of alarming the militia, or the prompt
response to the summons which occasioned the roads leading to
(27:47):
Conquered in Lexington to swarm with the minutemen. It is
only necessary to relate Warren's connection with the events of
this extraordinary day. A special messenger early in the morning
brought to Warren the intelligence of the events that occurred
in the morning at Lexington. His soul beat to arms,
Doctor Elliot says, as soon as he learned the intention
(28:10):
of the British troops, and he now called in mister Eustace,
his student, directed him to take care of his patients,
mounted his horse and departed for the scene of action.
He rode to the Charlestown Ferry. The last person to
whom he spoke as he entered the boat was the
grandfather of the late John r Aiden of Boston, and
(28:30):
Warren said as they parted, keep up a brave heart.
They have begun it that either party can do, and
will end it that only one can do. On the
way through Charlestown he met doctor Welch, a resident who
says eight o'clock in the morning saw doctor Joseph Warren
just come out of Boston horseback. I said, well, they
(28:52):
are gone out, yes, he said, and we will be
up with them before night. Jacob Rogers, another resident of Charlestown, says,
we were alarmed with various reports concerning the King's troops,
which put everybody in confusion. About ten in the morning
I met doctor Warren riding hastily out of town and
asked him if the news was true of the men
(29:14):
being killed at Lexington. He assured me it was. He
rode on. Between nine and ten o'clock, Lord Percy began
his march by the way of Roxbury to reinforce Colonel Smith.
His column passed through Cambridge, and, according to doctor Welch,
who appears to have accompanied Warren a short time, they
were near this force, two soldiers, doctor Welch says, going
(29:38):
to Lexington, tried to steal Watson's horse at Watson's Corner,
the old man with his cat and hat pulling one
way and the soldiers the other. Doctor Warren rode up
and helped drive them off. Tried to pass Percy's column,
stopped by bayonets. Two British officers rode up to Doctor
Warren in the rear of the British, inquiring where are
(30:00):
the troops. The doctor did not know. They were greatly alarmed.
Went home, and doctor Welch, who returned to Charlestown, relates
nothing further that transpired that day until the afternoon. A
meeting of the Committee of Safety was notified to be
held at mister Weatherby's at the Black Horse in Monotony,
(30:21):
or West Cambridge, and Watson's Corner was on the route
to this place. There is no record of the proceedings
of the Committee on this day, but the fact is
stated that the committee met General Heath, a member who
was present at this meeting, and on leaving it in
the morning went by a cross road over to Watertown,
and the British being in possession of the Lexington Road.
(30:44):
Warren undoubtedly was present at this meeting of the Committee.
I am unable to locate him for several hours, or
until in the afternoon, about the time Lord Percy's column
rescued Colonel Smith's party from entire destruction, which was at
two o'clock. The Provincial Congress had clothed the members of
the Committee of Safety with the power, in case of
(31:04):
offensive operations, to summon the militia into the field, and
they therefore were the center of authority. Warren, in the
relations of the day, is spoken of as the chairman
of the committee. In Boston, Hancock was the chairman of
the whole committee, and Samuel Adams met twice with them. Now,
the Provincial Congress, anxious to conform to the recommendations of
(31:27):
the Continental Congress, had cautioned the committees of the towns
to exercise the utmost forbearance in the great matter of
commencing hostilities, and this had been impressed on the towns
by the Committee of Safety. This fact has a bearing
on what took place at half past four on the
morning of this day at Lexington, and again at between
(31:48):
nine and ten at Conquered Bridge. It was considered of
great consequence to be able to establish the fact that
the British fired first, thus to make it clear to
the tribunal of the world that they were the immediate aggressors,
and to save the Colony of Massachusetts from the judgment
of having acted inconsiderately. Nothing could have been easier than
(32:09):
for the militia, who had assembled in large numbers and
conquered after the firing at Conquered Bridge, to have destroyed
a British party of about one hundred men who were
at a great distance from the main body. But they
were allowed to return over the bridge where the firing
took place. From four o'clock in the morning, couriers were
flying in every direction from Lexington, and it is not
(32:31):
improbable that the military officers before twelve o'clock had the
advice of the Committee of Safety. Adams and Hancock were
on the ground and could have given immediate directions. They
were persuaded to retire to what was then known as
the Second Precinct of Wooburn now Burlington, about two miles
from Reverend Jonas Clark's house. I am not able to
(32:54):
say whether Adams and Warren met on this memorable day,
but they surely were not far apart. It is a
fine day, Adams remarked, as he was walking in the
field after the day had dawned. Very pleasant, answered one
of his companions, supposing him to be contemplating the beauties
of the sky. I mean, he replied, this day is
(33:15):
a glorious day for America. So fearless was he of consequences,
Doctor Eliot says, so intrepid in the midst of danger,
so eager to look forward to the luster of events
that would succeed the gloom which then involved the minds
of the people. Warren. About the time Lord Percy met
Colonel Smith rejoined General Heath as the latter was taking
(33:37):
a crossroad leading from Watertown to Lexington on his way
to assume the command of the militia, and the two
kept together during the afternoon. There had been no hesitation
on the part of the minutemen after the British troops
about twelve o'clock set out on their return from conquered.
Before they had left the town, the battle of the
day began in Earnest an incessant though irregular fire. A
(34:00):
British officer writes of the British troops which was kept
up during the whole of their march back to Lexington,
in which they were driven before the Americans like sheep.
At that place they were met by the detachment under
Lord Percy with two pieces of cannon. The two detachments
rested on their arms and received some refreshment. Lord Percy
(34:21):
now formed his detachment into a square, in which he
enclosed Colonel Smith's party, who were so much exhausted with
fatigue that they were obliged to lie down for rest
on the ground, their tongues hanging out of their mouths
like those of dogs. After a chase, Lord Percy had
now about eighteen hundred troops under him. On renewing his retreat,
(34:45):
he was closely pursued as he went through West Cambridge.
The firing was very sharp in this battle. Heath says,
I was several times greatly exposed, in particular at the
high Grounds at the upper end of Monotomy, West Cambridge,
and also on the plain below the meetinghouse. On the
latter Doctor Joseph Warren. Afterwards Major General Warren, who kept
(35:10):
constantly near me, and then but a few feet distant,
a musket ball from the enemy came so near his
head as to strike the pin out of the hair
of his ear lock. On this plane, Doctor Olliphilet Downer,
in single combat with a British soldier, killed him on
the spot by thrusting him nearly through the body with
his bayonet. Authorities agree in stating that the firing was
(35:34):
severe on that portion of West Cambridge known as the Plane.
The reference to Warren's service here in Boyle's eulogy, printed
in seventeen eighty one, shows the impression which his bearing
made on his countrymen. Again, the conflict glows with rage,
severe and fearless ranks in combat mixed the peer victory uncertain,
(35:56):
fierce contention, reiins and purple rivers drench the slippery plains,
calumn to collum, host to host a pose, and rush
impetuous on their adverse foes. When lo the hero Warren
from Afar sought for the battle and the field of
war from rank to rank. The daring warrior flies and
(36:19):
bids the thunder of the battle rise. Sudden arrangements of
his troops are made, and sudden movements round the plain
displayed Columbia's genius in her polished shield gleams bright and
dreadful o'er the hostile field. Her ardent troops enraptured with
the sight with shock resistless, forced the dubious fight. Britons astonished,
(36:44):
tremble at the sight, and all confused precipitate their flight.
The Minutemen continued to harass the retreating troops as they
left the plain. After they entered the portion of Charlestown
which is now Somerville, and were moving from Prospect Hill
along the road by the bay that makes up from
Charles River. Their position was again critical for a force
(37:08):
of several hundred militia from Essex County were on or
near Winter Hill and threatened to cut them off. The militia,
heath says, continued to hang on the rear of the
British until they reached Bunker Hill in Charlestown, and it
had become so dusk as to render the flashes of
the muskets very visible. Bunker Hill is the nearest hill
(37:29):
to the mainland within the peninsula of Charlestown, and here
the British commander formed a line and covered by his ships,
prepared to make a stand. General Heath was now on
a plot of ground known as the common, just outside
of the peninsula, and he says Warren kept near him.
Here the order was given for the militia to discontinue
(37:50):
the pursuit and return to Cambridge. General Heath now held
the first Council of War of the Revolution at the
foot of Prospect Hill. It is said of warm by
la that he was perhaps the most active man in
the field, by Knapp that the people were delighted with
his cool, collected bravery, and already considered him as a
leader whose gallantry they were to admire and in whose
(38:13):
talents they were to confide. By Morton that he appeared
in the field under the united characters of the general,
the soldier and the physician. Here he was seen animating
his countrymen to battle and fighting by their side, And
there he was found administering healing comforts to the wounded.
And by Tutor that he would be regarded as the
(38:35):
personal representative of those brave citizens who, with arms hastily
collected sprang from their peaceable homes to resist aggression, and
on the plains of Lexington and heights of Charlestown, cemented
with their blood the foundation of American liberty. End of
Chapter fourteen.
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