eXplorations>The
Revolution> The Battles
of Lexington and Concord>General Gage to the Earl of
Dartmouth
General
Gage to the Earl of Dartmouth April 22, 1775.
I
am to acquaint your lordship that having received intelligence
of a large quantity of military stores being collected at Concord,
for the avowed purpose of supplying a body of troops to act in
opposition to his Majesty's government, I got the grenadiers and
light infantry out of town under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Smith of the 10th Regiment, and Major Pitcairne of the marines,
with as much secrecy as possible, on the 18th at night, and with
orders to destroy the said military stores; and supported them
the next morning by eight companies of the 4th, the same number
of the 23d, 47th, and marines, under the command of Lord Percy.
It appears from the firing of alarm guns and ringing of bells
that the march of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was discovered, and
he was opposed by a body of men within six miles of Concord, some
few of whom first began to fire upon his advanced companies which
brought on a fire from the troops that dispersed the body opposed
to them; and they proceeded to Concord, where they destroyed all
the military stores they could find. On the return of the troops
they were attacked from all quarters where any cover was to be
found, from whence it was practicable to annoy them, and they
were so fatigued with their march that it was with difficulty
they could keep out their flanking parties to remove the enemy
to a distance, so that they were at length a good deal pressed.
Lord Percy then arrived opportunely to their assistance with his
brigade and two pieces of cannon, and notwithstanding a continual
skirmish for the space of fifteen miles, receiving fire from every
hill, fence, house, barn, etc., his lordship kept the enemy off;
and brought the troops to Charlestown, from whence they were ferried
over to Boston.
Too
much praise cannot be given Lord Percy [the son of the Earl of
Northumberland] for his remarkable activity and conduct during
the whole day. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairne did
everything men could do, as did all the officers in general, and
the men behaved with their usual intrepidity. ... I have the honour
to transmit your lordship a return of the killed, wounded, and
missing. The loss sustained by those who attacked is said to be
great.
The
whole country was assembled in arms with surprising expedition,
and several thousand are now assembled about this town, threatening
and attack and getting up artillery. And we are very busy in making
preparations to oppose them.
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