Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution Gage's Instructions Thomas Gage The New York Times & Arno Press Reprinted from a microfilm copy in The American Antiquarian Society Library Reprint Edition 1971 by Arno Press Inc. LC# 78-140865 ISBN 0-405-01198-9 Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution, Series III ISBN for complete set: 0-405-01187-3 Manufactured in the United States of America GENERAL GAGE's INSTRUCTIONS, Of 22d _February_ 1775. To Captain _Brown_ and Ensign _D'Berniere_, (of the army under his command) whom he ordered to take a sketch of the roads, passes, heights, &c. from _Boston_ to _Worcester_, and to make other observations: With a _curious_ NARRATIVE Of OCCURRENCES during their mission, Wrote by the _Ensign_. Together with an ACCOUNT of their doings, in consequence of further Orders and Instructions from General _Gage_, of the 20th _March_ following, to proceed to _Concord_, to reconnoitre and find out the state of the provincial magazines; what number of cannon, &c. they have, and in what condition. ALSO, An ACCOUNT of the Transactions of the _British_ troops, from the time they marched out of _Boston_, on the evening of the 18th, 'till their _confused_ retreat back, on the _ever memorable Nineteenth of April 1775_; and a Return of their killed, wounded and missing on that _auspicious day_, as made to Gen. _Gage_. [Left in town by a _British_ Officer previous to the evacuation of it by the enemy, and now printed for the information and amusement of the _curious_.] _BOSTON_ Printed, and to be sold, by J. GILL, in Court Street. 1779. INSTRUCTIONS, &_c._ _Boston, February_ 22, 1775. GENTLEMEN, You will go through the counties of _Suffolk_ and _Worcester_, taking a sketch of the country as you pass; it is not expected you should make out regular plans and surveys, but mark out the roads and distances from town to town, as also the situation and nature of the country; all passes must be particularly laid down, noticing the length and breadth of them, the entrance in and going out of them, and whether to be avoided by taking other routes. The rivers also to be sketched out, remarking their breadth and depth and the nature of their banks on both sides, the fords, if any, and the nature of their bottoms, many of which particulars may be learned of the country people. You will remark the heights you meet with, whether the ascents are difficult or easy; as also the woods and mountains, with the height and nature of the latter, whether to be got round or easily past over. The nature of the country to be particularly noticed, whether inclosed or open; if the former, what kind of inclosures, and whether the country admits of making roads for troops on the right or left of the main road, or on the sides.