Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-03

| IcdiiLc WHAT ~ IL 10 DE one nuuuIcu anu twenty
years old--the age of Funtemah, the slave of
Washington. SENEx.
Bancroft's History.
We cut the following from the Baltimore
american of Thursday:
The sixth volume of Bancroft's History of
the United States is about to issue from the
| press, and extracts from the proof sheets have
| already been published. The volume com
prises the period between the repeal of the
Stamp Act, l766, and the Penal Measures
against Boston in l774. Toward the close Of
this interval, the quarrel between England and
the colonies had been brought to a crisis; the
| hope Of amicable adjustment had passed away;
| an appeal to arms was to establish the autho-
rity Of Great Britain over America. Of the
more strictly narrative passages in this volume,
| the account of the Boston Massacre on the
fifth of March, ITO, may be reckoned as the
most highly finished, and is probably not sur
passed by any of Mr.. Bancroft's efforts in this
line of historical writing. The people of Bos-
ton had been greatly incensed by the presence
of the British troops. Mutual feelings of hos
tility were cherished and openly expressed.
| The excitement was manifested in various
ways, and at length led to the scene of blood
shed which precpitated the Revolution:
son Friday, the I'd day of March, soldier
of the twenty-ninth asked to be employed at
Gray's Ropewalk, and was repulsed in the
coarsest words. He then defed the ropema-
kers to a boxing-match; and, one of them
accepting his challenge, he was beaten off.
Returning with several of his companions,
they too were driven away. A larger number
came down to renew the fight with clubs and
cutlasses, and in their turn encountered defeat.
Rvt io ina nd <>ft.o
for that day prevented further disturbance.
There was an end of the affair at the Rope
walk, but not at the barracks, where the sol
diers inAamed each others passions, as if the
honor OF the regiment were furnished. On
Saturday they prepared bludgeons; and being
resolved to brave the citizens on Monday night,
they forewarned their particular acquaintance
not to be abroad. Without duly restraining
his men, Carr, the ieutenantcolonel of the
twenty-ninth, made complaint to the lieuten-
ant-governor of the insult they had received.
The council, celebrating on Monday, seemed
Of opinion that the town would never be safe
from quarrels between the people and the sol
diers, as long as soldiers should be quartered
among them. In the present case the owner
of the Ropewalk gave satisfaction by dismiss
ing the workman complained OF.
The officers should, on their part, have kept
| their men within the barracks after nightfail.
Instead of it they left them to roam the streets.
Hutchinson should have insisted on measures
of precaution; but he too much wished the IA
vor of all who had influence at Westminster.
Evening came on. The young moon was
shining brightly in cloudless winter sky, and
its light was increased by new fallen snow.
Parties of soldiers were driving about the
streets, making parade of valor, challenging
resistance, and striking the inhabitants indis
criminately with sticks or sheathed cutlasses.
A band which rushed out from Murray's
Barracks, in Brattle street, armed with clubs.
cutlasses, and bayonets, provoked resistance
and an ARRAY ensued. Ensign Maui, at the
gate of the barrack yard, cried to the soldiers,
Turn out and viii stand by you; kill them
stick them; knock them down; run your
bayonets through them and one soldier after
another leveled frelock, and threatened to
make lane" through the crowd. Just be.
fore three, as an officer crossed King street,
now State street, a BARRIERS lad cried after
him "There goes a mean fellow, who hath not
paid my master for dressing his hair:n on
which the sentinel stationed at the westerly
end of the Custom-house, on the corner Of
King street and Exchange lane, left his post,
and with his nusket, gave the boy stroke on
the head, which made him stagger, and cry
for pain. a
The street soon became clear, and nobody
troubled the sentry, when party of soldiers
issued violently from the main-guard, their
arms glittering in the moon light, and passed
on hallooing, Where are they2 Where are
they2 Let them come" Presently twelve or
fifteen more, uttering the same cries, rushed
from the south into King street, and so by way
Of Cornhill toward Murray's Barracks. "Pray,
soldiers, spare my life cried boy Of twelve,
whom they met. "No; No; III kill you
all" answered one Of them, and Knocked him
down with his cutlass. They abused and in.
suited several persons at their doors, and
others IN the street, running about like mad
men in a fury," crying "Fite,' which seemed
their watchword, and "Where are they knock
them down." Their outrageous behavior oc-
casioned the ringing of the bell at the head Of
j King street. 40 fte
The citizens, whom the alarm set in motion,
came out with canes and clubs; and partly by
the interference Of weIldisposed officers, part
lyby the courage Of Crispus Attacks, mulatto,
and some others, the fray at the barracks was
soonover. Ofthe citizens, the prudent shouted
"home, homes" others, il was said called out,
Huzza for the main guard, there is the nest;p
but the main guard was not molested the whole
evening.
i body of soldiers came up Royal Exchange
lane crying 1" where are the towards ~ and
brandishing their arms, passed drought King
street From ten TO twenty boys came after
them, asking, where are they, where are they?p
There is the soldier who knocked me down."
said the BARRIERS boy, and they began pushing
one another towards the sentinel, He prmedi
and loaded bis muslket The lobster is going
TO fire" cried boy. Waving his piece about
the sentinel pulled the trigger. If you fire
you must die for it," said Henry Knox, who
was passing by. III don't care replied the
sentry; "d--n them, if they touch me III
fire. " Fire and be DID, shouted the boys,
for they were persuaded he could not do Il
without leave from civil officer; and young
fellow spoke out, eve win knock him down
for snapping;" while they whisiled through
their fingers and huzzard. Stand off, said
the sentry, and shouted aloud, Turn ont,
main guard" "They are killing a sentinel
reported servant from the custom house, run.
ming to the main guard. @Turn out why don't
you tprp opt2" cried Preston, who was cap