Since the
catastrophe at Lexington, our Provincial Congress have addressed the several
towns of the colony in a circular letter, in the following impressive language.
"We conjure you by all that is dear, by an that is sacred, that you give
all assistance possible in forming the Army. Our all is at stake. Death and
devestation are the certain consequences of delay. Every moment is infinitely
precious. An hour lost may deluge your country in blood, and entail perpetual
slavery on the few of your posterity who may survive the carnage. We beg and
entreat, as you will answer it to your country, to your consciences, and, above
all, as you will answer it to God himself, that you will hasten and encourage,
by all possible means, the enlistment of men to form the Army, and send them
forward to head quarters at Cambridge, with that expedition which the vast
importance and instant urgency of the affair demands."
It is scarcely
possible to describe the zeal and military ardor which pervades New England
since the battle at Lexington. It is supposed that nearly forty thousand men
have been in arms with the design of investing the town of Boston, and avenging
themselves on the enemy for their late slaughter of our brethren. The
universal voice is "starve them out." Drive them
from the town and let his majesty's ships be their only place of refuge. Our
Provincial Congress have resolved that an army of thirty thousand men be
immediately raised and established. A considerable number have already
enlisted, and being formed into regiments, have taken their station at
Cambridge and Roxbury. The country militia, in great numbers, have arrived from
various parts of New England; and the town of Boston is now invested on all
sides, and thus is the whole royal army reduced to the humble condition of a
besieged garrison. The situation of the inhabitants is deplorable; a
considerable proportion of the most affluent have removed into the country; but
others, from various circumstances, are compelled to remain and suffer all the
calamities of a besieged town and precarious subsistence. Instances indeed are
not wanting of members of families being torn from each other, women and
children flying from their husbands and parents, under the most afflictive and
destitute circumstances.
We are now
experiencing a singular kind of Interregnum in our Province; more than a year
has elapsed without any legal government, or any regular administration of law
and justice. No crimes, however, of an atrocious nature have, we believe, been
perpetrated; all classes of people appear to be submissive, under the influence
of the principles of moral rectitude and common justice; and the resolutions and
recommendations of Congress have all the weight and efficacy of laws. Our
domestic tranquillity is in some measure interrupted by a restless spirit among
the tories; but the great body of the community are actuated by the glorious
cause of our country's freedom. The maxim adopted by our enemies is, "Divide and conquer."
We enjoin the command, "Unite and be invincible." It is considered
infinitely important to encourage and promote a more perfect union among the
colonies, and harmony and unanimity among the people. "Liberty or
death." "Unite or die," are the mottos which blazon the
chronicles of the day, and embellish the military standards of almost every
militia company. man who does not acquiesce in the theme of liberty is marked
by the vigilant eye of suspicion, or stigmatized as an enemy to his country.
Liberty poles are erected in almost every town and village; and when a
disaffected tory renders himself odious, by any active conduct, with the view
of counteracting the public measures, he is seized by a company of armed men,
and conducted to the liberty pole, under which he is compelled to sign a
recantation, and give bonds for his future good conduct. In some instances, of
particular stubbornness and obstinacy, individuals have been imprisoned, or
their names have been published in the newspapers as enemies to their country.
It has indeed unfortunately happened, that a few individuals, in consequence of
their own indiscretion, have been the subjects of a more rigorous procedure.
Having fallen into the hands of those whose zeal has transported them beyond
the bounds of moderation, they have received from the rabble a coat of tar and
feathers, and in this predicament have been exposed to the scoffs and ridicule
of the populace. Such examples have the effect of striking terror into the
hearts of all the disaffected, and of restraining the whole party from acting
against the general sense of the people. The tories make bitter complaints
against the discipline which they receive from the hands of the whigs; their
language is, "You make the air resound with the cry of liberty, but
subject those who differ from you to the humble condition of slaves, not
permitting us to act, or even think, according to the dictates of conscience."
The reply is, "It is one of the first principles of a free government,
that the majority shall bear rule; our majority is immensely large; we have
undertaken the hazardous task of defending the liberties of our country against
the mighty power of Great Britian; and hold ourselves responsible for our
conduct. If you possess not patriotism and courage enough to unite your efforts
with ours, it is our duty to put it out of your power to injure the common
cause. If we are successful, your party and posterity will participate in the
important advantages to be derived from our efforts. If our party should be
crushed, then will yours in turn become triumphant." A small number of our
tories have abandoned their homes, their families and property, and resorted to
the standard of their royal master in Boston; consoling themselves in the
confident expectation of an ample reward, and a triumphant restoration. The
clergymen of New England are, almost without exception, advocates of whig
principles; there are a few instances only of the separation of a minister from
his people, in consequence of a disagreement in political sentiment. The tories
censure, in a very illiberal manner, the preacher who speaks boldly for the
liberties of the people, while they lavish their praises on him who dares to
teach the absurd doctrine, that magistrates have a divine right to do wrong,
and are to be implicitly obeyed. It is recommended by our Provincial Congress,
that on other occasions than the sabbath, ministers of parishes adapt their
discourses to the times, and explain the nature of civil and religious liberty,
and the duties of magistrates and rulers. Accordingly, we have from our pulpits
the most fervent and pious effusions to the throne of Divine Grace in behalf of
our bleeding, afflicted country. A zealous divine, who has been compelled to
abandon the people of his charge in Boston, on one occasion used, in the pulpit
at P***, the following emphatical language. "Oh! Lord, if our enemies will
fight us, let them have fighting enough. If more soldiers are on their way
hither, sink them, O Lord, to the bottom of the sea." Every heart
seemed ready to respond, "Amen, yea, let them have fighting enough."
SOURCE: James
Thatcher, M.D., A Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War,
from 1775 to 1783, pp. 20-4
