Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-27


Ward Pomeroy, Thomas and Heath. April Is, it was
further resolved 10 raise train OF artillery, composed
of SIX companies "to enter Immediately on dscplIne
and 10 be ready enter the service OF the colony
"when an army should be raised Along with THIS
mir or preparation The Provincial Congress and the
Committee of Safety set in motion various
admirably calculated to increase the discipline and
rouse the military arcor OF The coionsls The clergy
were rxhored TO make The times theme for the pull
nil Did town present uncommon array Of martial
spirit details of the fine appearance, the credabe dis
ciolne of it's troops circulated through the colo
MES In such manner, enthusiasm was enkndled in
remarkable degree The country was alive with mi.
lary excitement Stores were collected. All the can
nan that could be seized, were dragged to place
of safety-some;imes from under the very noses
of British officers, and from the guns of British
frigates.
rbe great marazine OF stores, collected by order OF
the Provincial Congress, was OF concord Gage de-
ermined 10 destroy these stores Accordingly, on the
ngbt nj the Is:h Of April he despatched Lieut.. Col.
smith with what he considered sufficient force, to
accomplish this work Hence, on the day following,
The momentous battle Of Lexington occurred, the fit
prelude to the battle of Bunker Hill III not proposed
hare 10 detail The events Of this battle. The news
it spread like wild fire. 1t was like call TO arms
The same frenzy as Jefferson terms the glorious move
men,, was as rife in Virginia. as It was 10 South Ca.
rona and in these colonies, as u was IN Nassachu-
se,ts An army as il the command OF an enchantcr,
sprunu into existence, and occupied Inc commanding
eminences about the metropolis. Three days after the
battle troops from the various adjoining colonies were
here nd the British as closely confined TO Bos-
ton as they ever were Afterwards ana where troops
did not march directly 10 the scene OF action they were
in the field "Al ranks oil men among US are in arms
saws PHILADELPHIA let.er-"nothing IS heard in our
streets hut the trumpet and drum; and the universal
crv 10 "a merjca 70 arms, But though there was
abundance of military enthusiasm ana minute men
about Boston, there was as yet no regular army on
Sunday April 49, the Provincial congress OF Nassa-
IF this
nor "a 600 were to be enlisted by Observation-Disclosures
| rema;nder by other New England provinces. On the
oIst of Nav. 1775 General Ward placed in COM
mand Of this army. By the middle OF June, 5000
troops beseged Boston, which were encnmped in the
neirbborine towns from Chelsea to Ro1bury. But
this bodv "of country people was an army in name
only Ii hardly continued within i,seil "the elements
of uniformity aud discipline. There was IN reality no
other bond of than Volunteer ecqnescence, and
no controlling head vested with my adequate power
TO maintain authority In supplies, also, ~ was Ia
mentally deficient; even tents, bayones and powder
we're wanting The strength of the army lay in its
thusiasm, its indomitabe parlotsm and lis terrible
efficiency when called to meet The British, consisted
in the skill of each that composed 1t IN the use oil
the rifle 1t was 4 body of freemen eager TO contest
their title TO freedom with their swords The oficers
who commanded this army had most Of them, seen
hard service Putnam, Pomeroy, Prescott, Grdley,
and others had been out in the old French war-that
proydenal school of arms Tor the cnlonss, that train
ed up men to direct their strength against the most for
midabc power of Europe. These officers were whole
souled patriots The names Of some of them appear
az consnicuousy in the paper OF resolutions pro.
lection agreements and addresses as they afterwards
did in the fields Of blood. None of these stand OF.
more conspicuously in this respect than Prescott, the
volunteer commander OF The Bunker HILL redoubt, or
Warren the volunteer martyr in the first great battle
that Amer principles waged against the principles
Of absou,sm All this was widely known. The
troops loved them for their bodness IN this respect as
well as for their military courage In these early days
the moral heroes, like Samuel Adams, who were known
the thinkers and prime movers OF patriotic opposi-
ton were often received with professions imposing
as those of day This feeling confidence IN
the officers OF the army shared fully by The men
" bn composed It.
Far different was the construction Of The British
armv which, after the 10Th OF April, was cooped up
in Boston il was admirably dsc pllned, aboundng IN
every thing necessary 10 carry on military operations
Il was finely differed. General Gage It's commander,
had seen much service had Bursoyne, Howe, Gin.
ton, and Pigo, But they labored under The strange
and fatal mistake OF undertaking the brave men they
had to contend against. In their eyes, the America
patriots were cowardly set, who would not fl ht.-
Stranger STILL as may SEEM The hitler pill OF Concord
and Lexington experience so letters written at the
lime by individuals of the army show, did not awaken
them from this deluson. Most of the army were filled
with the spirit that actuated the othcers Andthey
were indignant that an impatient set OF "ragamutnns
had dared to brave the authority of King and Para-
ment, and TO insult them with siege ii the AmeTi-
can troops were animated by PATRIOTISM The BRUSH
gre ma ders were filled with resentment. The latter
were burning for an opportunity of chastislns these
nsoent rebels this 'rabble "led on by demagogues
to certain ruin" such demagogues that rascnlly
pa,rot and apolhecary Joseph Warren, or that vio-
lent "madcap, "who swore he would see the Province
IN flame, because his father not made chef JUS
tice" James Oils; that "notOrous deaullef, "iull
OF artful Wills and smooth demeanor who talked the
people out of their understandings, Samuel Adams
or that "dupe of Samuel Adams, John Hancock-"a
man whose brains shallow and pockets deep. -
rabbe goaded on also by 'sthe black regiment, Uni.
ns,ers of the gospeD which "the oily tongues Of those
who undertook "to mouth sef-interes for patriotism,
had The adroness enlist in their service, and the
members OF which continually ''sounded the trumpet
of sedon and rebellion" A rabbls stimulated by The
press which "roared out its libels" until "bertinism,
riot and robbery became the order Of the day. and a
com pe,e .,orrent of savage barbary waa let loose
BY such means s'Hancock and his crew al length
raised Gas wanton and wicked rebellion as ever ragged
in any government the face of the earth, which
It the duty of every true roya!lst TO quell Inc
British army by nursing such thoughts these, which
may be seen IN the cotemporaneous tory documents
of the time-became indignant at their Boston pri-
son. And thus it was that both sides were eager for a
meeting
The British commanders were growing more dI,sa-
tisfed with their quarters Boston became every day
more uncomfortable. They, therefore, determined to
General Gage with much earnesiness by his officers,
and his delay in executing has been severely censu-
red by British writers. He repeatedly advised to
occupy and fortify especially Charlestown heights =
These facts were carely noted There were many pa.
triols who watched with engle eyes every movement.
and who employed every means to get information OF
the purposes Of the British General They found ways
send this information 10 the American camp. Some
of the letters conveying this, yet to be some
are anonymous-some under signature. Tradition as.
crbes valuable communications 10 patriot lady, and
a distinguished clergyman. Whoever furnished the
intelligence certain it is, that the committee OF safety,
invested by the Provincial Congress with enlarged
powers, well Informed Of The designs Of the Brl.
fish to take possession of the neighboring heights
They also knew the precise time it TO be attempted,
June Ia. Before this movement was made known,
General Gage thought proper TO discharge one more
paper bullet He, accordingly, expressed officially the
public sentiment of his army and of The ministry
tlongh mol then that Of the British nation at large. On
the 2th of June, he issued proclamation denouncng
the patriot leaders 'ncendiaries and traitors the
people rebels, announcing the existence of martial
law, but gracously Offering pardon to all who would
lay down their arms, but Samuel Adams and John Han
cock 1t was Characteristic OF ali the infatuated