Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-05-16

Another incident it may not be improper
ID mention. While the seat of government
remained at Salem, l received a note from
the secretary Of the province, informing me
that the goyernour wished Ia see me at the
secretary's house. | went, and was intro
duced 70 General Gage. Taking me into
another room, he entered into conversation
on the then state Of things, the solemn
league and covenant, and the non-inPorta-
tioR aErecucr-s- In the conclusion, the
general said" Well, there arc merchants
who, Notwithstanding all your agreements,
will import British goods" | answered.
I" They may import them, but the people
will use their liberty to buy or to let them
alone"
These incidents are mentioned, not for a.
NJ iutrinsick importance attached TO them
but as evidences of the confidence had ac-
/ quired among my fellow-citizens, from an
early period of our political disputes with
! Great- Britain.
On the 10Th Of April 1775 was the bat
tie Of Lexington. This is the era to which
| SANDER seldom fails to recur, when Tor
party purposes, my character is to be heidi
to reproach will state the facts, with All
| the accuracy in my power, after a lapse Of
three -and-thirty years.
About nine O'Clock in the morning, being
in my Office 1.-THE registry Of deeds for the
county Of Essex a captain OF militia from
the adj ,Cent town of Danvers, came in and
informed me that a man had ridden into that
town. and reported that the British troops
had marched from Boston 20 Lexington,
and attacked the militia. This officer,
whose company belonged e NY regiment,
asked for orders, and gave him a verbal
answer, that the Danvers companies should
march without waiting for those of Salem.
Immediately t-ent " the centre Of the
town, and net a few If the principal inhab-
itants. "A short consultation ensued Those
who knew the distance of ! eXington from
Salem, and IFS relative situation 20 Boston
tuf which had no personal knowledge, and
but an indstinct ideal observed, that the
British troops would certainly have return
, ed to Boston long before the Salem militia
7 could reach the scene Of the reported &C.
! ton and that our marching would there
y fore Be useless Nevertheless, we conclu-
ded 70 assemble the militia, and commence
cur march and FIR thf5 role yeaa1a,- That N
zg9u!d be an cvidsrte 20 0rsr brethren IN me
cguzyv, of ar i,sbogytioH 20 cooperate IN exeyy
nleasEye tstich tie common safefr reqate<.-
7ias idea, however. 81 tie truitlessness "
our march, was predominant, that we
halted a short time, when about two miles
from the town expecting every moment
intelligence that the British troops had re-
turned. But receiving none we resumed
our march, and proceeded 20 Medfnrd,
which was about five miles from Boston
Here, 60 the best Of nv recollection, first
u Al 49, r. - r.
ish troops were still on their march, and Oh
4 rout which rendered It possible 70 meet
them. I fastened the march Of the militia
on the direct road to Cha-lestown and BGs-
tor until on an elevated part OF the road,
saw the smoke from the fire Of small
number Of militia nuskets discharged at
distance, at the British troops. | halte
the companies, and ordered them % load
I III full expo = alton Of IN g To an engage
naeu, a. that moment a messenger arrived
I from General Heath, who informed me tina,
THE British troops had theiIattll.ery IN then
rear, and could not be approached by mus
| kerry and that the general desired 20 SER
ne Leaving the companies in that posi-
/ tior, went across the fields, and met Gen
I eral Heath. We there soon after saw the
/ British troops ascend the high ground call
/ ed Bunler's hill. Il was about sunset
! The next day they entered Boston. II last
! summer saw General Heath he did not re-
member this interview. He had even for
gotten my person although we were ac-
| quainted with each other, both before and
| Turing the American war--1 returned 20
| Join the Salem militia, who marched back
| 10 Medford, where we staid that night, and
| the next day returned to Salem.
According 70 Dr. Ramsay, the British
forces who marched to Lexington were 800
| grenadiers and light infantry, the flower Of
! the royal army and they we're reinforced
! BY a detachment Of 900 men under Lord
| Pieroy. Of this number nearly three hun
! dred were killed, wounded and taken pris-
| oners leaving a regular force Of 400 men /;
/ for not destroying whom, or making them
prisoners, with four companies Of militia,
have been reProached.
| think It was before the close Of the year
1775, that in organizing the provisional gov
| ernment Of Massachusetts,, was appointed
one Of the Judges Of the court Of common
! pleas for Essex, my native county, and sole
! nudge Of the maritime court (Which had
| cognizance Of all prize causes) for the mid
| die dis .Ct, cOmprehcnding Boston, with
| Salem and the other ports IN Essex Offices
which held until accepted an appoint
! ment in the army.
In the fall Of l776, the army under Cen
eral Washington's command being greatly
| reduced n numbers, laEge reinforcement
Of militia was called for think 5000 from
Massachusetts. It0ok tile command Of the
regiment Of 700 men furnished from Essex
| The quota OF Salem was composed ofvoun-
teers The aspect OF our affairs was gloomy
/ addressed the Salem mllltias urging
! cheerful tender Of their services. One SEN
timent expressed on that OCCASIONS fresh
| IN my memory That IL gpas at such a time
tbe real patriot zgoRI4 sfczU his zeal and deco
tion to h,s country.
This tour Of militia duty was performed in