Intelligence is now received that the British regulars have
marched out of Boston, and actually commenced hostilities against our people at
Lexington. For the purpose of ascertaining the particular facts, I have been
desired to wait on Col. Otis, at his mansion in this town. It was in the
evening, when I found this dignified patriot in his easy chair, with several of
his neighbors listening with agitated spirits to some account of this first
most awful tragedy. The good old gentleman had received a letter containing a
statement of some particulars, and with manifest trepidation he said to this
effect. "The British troops marched to Lexington and Concord last
Wednesday, the 19th instant, for the purpose of destroying some of our military
stores; our militia collected and met them at Lexington; the regulars soon
commenced firing on them; our people returned the fire; a smart skirmish
ensued, and several men were killed on both sides. The British were compelled
to retreat, in some confusion, to Boston; and our people pursued and harassed
them. The fearful day has arrived! a civil war has actually commenced in our
land. We must be prepared for the worst, and may God preserve and protect our
country." This tragical event seems to have electrified all classes of
people; the brave are fired with manly resentment, the timid overwhelmed in
despair; the patriotic whigs sorrowing over public calamities, while the tories
indulge the secret hope, that the friends of liberty are about to receive their
chastisement. The sword is now unsheathed, and our friends are slaughtered by
our cruel enemies; expresses are hastening from town to town, in all directions
through the country, spreading the melancholy tidings and inspiriting and
rousing the people To Arms! To Arms! The people of New England have
taken the alarm, and their hearts are animated even to enthusiasm. There is an
enthusiasm in religion, in politics, in military achievements, and in gallantry
and love, and why not an enthusiasm in the love of country? No species of
enthusiasm surely can be more laudable, or more honorable. Never was a cause
more just, more sacred than ours; we are commanded to defend the rich
inheritance bequeathed to us by our virtuous ancestors; and it is our bounden
duty to transmit it uncontaminated to posterity; we must fight valiantly
therefore, for our lives and property, for our holy religion,
for our honor, and for our dearest friends. We are not born to be slaves, and
are resolved to live and die, free; appealing to the sovereign Ruler of the
Universe for the justice of our cause, and relying on his Almighty arm for
protection and support. A certain number of active men, in every town, have
formed themselves into military companies, under the name of minute men; they
are daily practising the manual exercise, and are held in constant readiness to
march against the enemy at a moment's warning. We await with trembling
expectation the issue of every hour.
Authenticated accounts are now received of the battle at
Lexington. On Tuesday evening, 18th instant, General Gage despatched, with as
much secrecy as possible, a detachment consisting of eight or nine hundred
regulars, under the command of Lieutenant Col. Smith, for the purpose of
destroying some military stores, which our people had deposited at Concord, about
eighteen miles from Boston. Having arrived at Lexington, six miles short of
Concord, they were met by a company of militia, of about one hundred men, who
having taken the alarm, began to assemble from different towns before daylight.
They were assembled near the church, about sunrise; when the British advanced
in quick march to within a few rods, Major Pitcairn called out, "Disperse
you Rebels, throw down your arms and disperse."
Their small number would not admit of opposition, and while they were dispersing,
the regulars huzzaed, and immediately one or two pistols were fired by the
officers, and four or five muskets by the soldiers; when a pretty general
discharge from the whole party followed, by which eight of our people were
killed and seven wounded. The British now renewed their march to Concord, where
they destroyed a few articles of stores and sixty barrels of flour. Here they
were met by about one hundred and fifty militia men, on whom they fired and
killed two, and wounded others. Our militia and minute men were now collecting
in considerable numbers, and being justly enraged they made a bold and furious
attack on the enemy, and drove them in quick march to
Lexington. General Gage having received intelligence of the critical situation
of his troops, immediately ordered out Lord Percy, with a large reinforcement,
with two field pieces. He marched over the neck through Roxbury, his music
playing by way of contempt and derision the tune of "Yankee doodle."
This timely reinforcement joined the party under command of Colonel Smith at
Lexington, which formed a force of about eighteen hundred men. They soon deemed
it prudent to commence their march to Boston, the provincial militia and minute
men, continually increasing in numbers, pursued and flanked them with the hope
of cutting off their retreat. A Constant skirmishing ensued; the provincials
concealed themselves behind stone walls, and with a sure aim thinned their
enemies' ranks, and occasioned among them great confusion. On their side, they
could only keep up a scattering fire, without effect, frequently firing over
the stone walls, when there was not a man to be seen behind them. The great
object of the British, was to effect a safe retreat to Boston; but, to avenge
themselves, they burnt and plundered houses, destroyed property, and actually
murdered several innocent unarmed persons. The situation of the king's forces
was, during the day, extremely hazardous; and it is considered wonderful that
any of them escaped. Worn down and almost exhausted with fatigue, and their
ammunition nearly expended, they had become nearly defenceless when they
reached Charlestown, in the evening, after a loss of two hundred and seventy
three men, killed, wounded and prisoners. The loss on the side of the
Provincials is eighty eight in the whole. The British officers have received a
specimen of Yankee courage, which they have hitherto affected
to hold in the most sovereign contempt; they have ascertained by fatal
experience, that the people of New England will bid defiance to their veteran
regulars, and fight courageously in defence of their rights. It is truly said
to be matter of astonishment and chagrin, that after all their glorying, their
veteran troops have been compelled to flee before a comparatively small number
of undisciplined Yankees. The origin of this term, so frequently
employed by way of reproach to the New England people, is said to be as
follows. A farmer, by name Jonathan Hastings, of Cambridge, about the year 1713
used it as a cant, favorite word, to express excellency when applied to any
thing; as a Yankee good horse, Yankee cider, &c. meaning an excellent horse
and excellent cider. The students at college, having frequent intercourse with Mr.
Hastings, and hearing him employ the term on all occasions, adopted it
themselves, and gave him the name of Yankee Jonathan; this soon became a cant
word among the collegians to express a weak, simple, awkward person, and from
college it was carried and circulated through the country, till, from its
currency in New England, it was at length taken up and unjustly applied to the
New Englanders in common, as a term of reproach. It was in consequence of this that
a particular song called "Yankee doodle," was composed in derision of
those scornfully called Yankees.*
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* There appears some incongruity in the above definition of
the word Yankee. The following is supposed by some to be the origin from which
it is derived. "Yankee is the Indian corruption of English.
Yenglees, Yangles, Yankles, and finally Yankee."
SOURCE: James Thatcher, M.D., A Military Journal
during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783, pp. 16-20
