Primary Source: The London Chronicle
Excerpt of Article from The London Chronicle April 26–28, 1770
The following is a substance of a letter from Boston, dated the 12th of March, relative to the unhappy affair between the Townsmen and the Soldiers on the 5th of that month:
For some time past frequent affrays have happened in the streets of this town between the inhabitants and the soldiers quartered there, and particularly on the 2nd and 3rd of March in which affrays one or two of the soldiers were much hurt. On the 5th of March, in the evening, a number of the townspeople, after insulting in the barracks, attacked a sentry upon duty at the Customhouse, and forced him from his post. Upon his requiring aid, Captain Preston (who was Captain of the day) sent a non- commissioned officer and 12 men to his assistance, and soon after followed himself. This party was also attacked, and insulted by the mob, and one of them, receiving a blow, fired his piece, after which six or seven others fired, by which three of the townspeople were killed upon the spot and several others wounded; one of which is since dead of his wounds. During this transaction there was a great tumult in the town. The people prepared to arm;
expresses had been sent to the neighboring towns for assistance; and a resolution taken to give a general alarm, by firing the beacon; but by the persuasion of the Lieutenant Governor, the people were prevailed upon, after some time, to disperse; A barrel of tar, which was carrying to the beacon, was brought back, and the troops, which were under arms, retired to their barracks.
On the next morning the Council assembled to deliberate on the measures it might be advisable to pursue. It having been declared, by several of the members, that it was the determination of the people to have the troops removed from the town at all events, that this was the sense of the whole province, that the inhabitants of the other towns stood ready to come in, in order to affect this, and that they had formed their plan, of which this was only a part. And the inhabitants, assembled in town meeting, having by their selectmen, and by messages repeatedly represented, that nothing would satisfy the people, but a total and immediate removal of the troops. The Lieutenant-Governor thought fit to request the commanding officer, to cause both the regiments to remove to the barracks at the castle, which was accordingly done without further disturbance.
Upon examinations before two Justices of the Peace, Captain Preston being charged with ordering the troops to fire, was committed to prison: as were also seven or eight private men, charged with having fired in consequence of those orders.
The following is a substance of a letter from Boston, dated the 12th of March, relative to the unhappy affair between the Townsmen and the Soldiers on the 5th of that month:
For some time past frequent affrays have happened in the streets of this town between the inhabitants and the soldiers quartered there, and particularly on the 2nd and 3rd of March in which affrays one or two of the soldiers were much hurt. On the 5th of March, in the evening, a number of the townspeople, after insulting in the barracks, attacked a sentry upon duty at the Customhouse, and forced him from his post. Upon his requiring aid, Captain Preston (who was Captain of the day) sent a non- commissioned officer and 12 men to his assistance, and soon after followed himself. This party was also attacked, and insulted by the mob, and one of them, receiving a blow, fired his piece, after which six or seven others fired, by which three of the townspeople were killed upon the spot and several others wounded; one of which is since dead of his wounds. During this transaction there was a great tumult in the town. The people prepared to arm;
expresses had been sent to the neighboring towns for assistance; and a resolution taken to give a general alarm, by firing the beacon; but by the persuasion of the Lieutenant Governor, the people were prevailed upon, after some time, to disperse; A barrel of tar, which was carrying to the beacon, was brought back, and the troops, which were under arms, retired to their barracks.
On the next morning the Council assembled to deliberate on the measures it might be advisable to pursue. It having been declared, by several of the members, that it was the determination of the people to have the troops removed from the town at all events, that this was the sense of the whole province, that the inhabitants of the other towns stood ready to come in, in order to affect this, and that they had formed their plan, of which this was only a part. And the inhabitants, assembled in town meeting, having by their selectmen, and by messages repeatedly represented, that nothing would satisfy the people, but a total and immediate removal of the troops. The Lieutenant-Governor thought fit to request the commanding officer, to cause both the regiments to remove to the barracks at the castle, which was accordingly done without further disturbance.
Upon examinations before two Justices of the Peace, Captain Preston being charged with ordering the troops to fire, was committed to prison: as were also seven or eight private men, charged with having fired in consequence of those orders.
