reinforcement, under the command of Lord Percy, having been detached that morning from Boston, they joined the first detachment in the retreat, and retired with it to Bunker's Hill, where they intrenched, and night parted them. Our number increased, and next morning would have surrounded the hill, had it not been for the situation near the water, where, on one side, they were exposed to the fire from a Man-o-War.

We lost thirty men in the action. The lowest account of the enemy's loss is one hundred and fifty. Lord Percy, Gen. Haldimand, and many other officers, are said to be among the slain. A gentleman of veracity assured me that he numbered, within half a mile from the place where the fight began, one hundred and fifty. The post confirms the

same account.

We are all in motion here, and equipt from the Town yesterday one hundred young men, who cheerfully offered their services; twenty days provisions, and sixty four rounds, per man. They are all well armed, and in high spirits. My brother is gone with them, and others of the first property. Our neighboring towns are all arming and moving. Men of the first character and property shoulder their arms and march off for the field of action. We shall, by night, have several thousands from this Colony on the march.

The eyes of America are on New York; the Ministry have certainly been promised by some of your leading men, that your Province would desert us; but you will be able to form a better judgement when you see how this intelligence is relished. Take care of yourselves; we have more than men enough to block up the enemy at Boston, and if we are like to fall by treachery, by Heaven we will not fall unrevenged on the traitors; but if balls or swords will reach them, they shall fall with us. It is no time now to daly, or be merely neutral; he that is not for us is against us, and ought to feel the first of our resentment. You must now declare most explicitly, one way or

the other, that we may know whether we are to go to Boston or New York. If you desert, our men will as cheerfully attack New York as Boston; for we can but perish, and that we are determined upon, or be free. I have nothing to add, but am,

Your friend and countryman &c.

P. S. Col. Murray's son, one of the Tories, undertook to guide the Regulars in their march to Concord, and on their retreat was taken prisoner; but attempting to escape from our people, they shot him, a death too honorable for such a villain! They have made another of them prisoner, but I do not recollect his name; none of ours were taken. Will Col. Grant believe now that New England men dare look Regulars in the face? Eighteen hundred of their best men retreating with loss, before one third of their number, seems almost incredible, and I think must be called an omen for good. In every Struggle Heaven has, as yet, given us Strength equal to the day; its hand is not shortened, nor its arm weakened. We are now called upon to show the world "that whom we call fathers did beget us," and that we desire to enjoy the blessings they purchased for us with their lives and fortunes. We fix on our Standards and Drums, the Colony Arms, with the motto "qui transtulit sustinct," round it in letters of gold, which we construe thus, "God, who transplanted us hither, will support us."

1

To quote Parson Gordon again:

"The proceedings of April 19, have united the Colony and Continent, and brought in New York to act as vigorously as any other place whatsoever; and has raised an army in an instant, which are lodged in the several houses of the Towns round Boston till their tents are finished, which will be soon. All that is attended to, besides ploughing and planting, &c., is making ready for fighting. The Non-importations and Non-exportations will now take place from necessity, and traffick give place to war.

1 American Archives, II, 4th ser., 626-31. Force.

We have a fine spring, prospects of great plenty; there was scarce ever known such a good fall of lambs; we are in no danger of starving through the cruel acts against the New England Governments; and the men who had been used to the fishery, (a hardy generation of people,) Lord North has undesignedly kept in the Country to give strength to our Military Operations, and to assist as occasion may require; thanks to a superior wisdom for his blunders. The General is expecting reinforcements, but few have arrived as yet; the winds, contrary to the common run at this season, instead of being easterly, have been mostly the reverse. When the reinforcement arrives, and is recovered of the voyage, the General will be obliged in honour to attempt dislodging the people, and penetrating into the country; both soldiers and inhabitants are in want of fresh provisions, and will be likely to suffer much, should the Provincial Army be able to keep the Town shut up on all sides, excepting by water, as at present.

The General engaged with the Selectmen of Boston, that if the Town's people would deliver up their arms into their custody, those that chose it should be allowed to go out with their effects. The townsmen complied, and the General forfeited his word, for which there will be an after reckoning, should they ever have it in their power to call him to an account. A few have been allowed to come out with many of their effects; numbers are not permitted to come out, and the chief of those who have been, have been obliged to leave their merchandise and goods (linen and household stuff, cash and plate, excepted) behind them. You must look back to the origin of the United Provinces, that you may have an idea of the resolution of this people. May the present struggle end as happily in favour of American liberty, without proving the destruction of Great Britain. We are upon a second edition of King Charles First's reign, enlarged. May the dispute be adjusted before the times are too tragical to admit of it. Both officers and privates have altered their opinion of the Yankees very much since the 18th of April."