Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
History
Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. 6 (of 8): The United States of North America, Part I
America -- Discovery and exploration; America -- History; United States -- History
Revere engraved a large folding picture of the massacre, which appeared
in the official _Short Narrative_, which has been reproduced in the
_Old State House Memorial_ (Boston, 1882, p. 82) and in the _Mag. of
Amer. Hist._ (Jan., 1886, p. 9), in an article on Revere by E. H. Goss.
A reëngraving of Revere's plate is in the London (Bingley) edition of
the same, and on a smaller scale in the other London (Dilby) edition,
and this last is reproduced in the _Mem. Hist. Boston_, iii. 40.
Thomas's _Mass. Kalendar_ (1772) has a woodcut representation, after
Revere's drawing. Cf. nos. 579 to 583 of the _Catal. of the Cab. of the
Mass. Hist. Soc._—ED.]
When Sir Francis Bernard[111] sailed for England on board the
"Rippon", in August, 1769, he left the administration in the hands
of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson. For several months nothing of
importance took place, except misunderstandings growing out of the
non-observance of the non-importation agreements (which were renewed
March, 1770), and quarrels between the troops and the populace which
resulted in the deplorable scenes of March 5, 1770. The circumstances
which led to this affair are too well known to need recital in
detail. While the town was occupied by British regiments, collisions
were constantly occurring. None knew better than the populace the
helplessness of the soldiers to resent insult or injury by arms.
Even in case of riots, the reading of the Act and the intervention
of the civil power were necessary preliminaries to firing upon the
crowd. Nothing but confinement of the soldiers to their barracks could
have prevented collisions with the populace. The patriot leaders had
determined to get rid of the regiments at all cost. The affair at
Gray's wharf on Saturday, March 2, led to the more serious affray on
Monday, the 5th. On the evening of that day, between seven and eight
o'clock, the cry of fire and ringing of bells drew together a large
crowd, which was followed by a collision with the troops, and resulted
in the death of three persons and wounding of several others, two
mortally. The Boston Massacre soon became known throughout the country,
and aroused a spirit of resistance hitherto unfelt. Its immediate
effect was the withdrawal of the troops from the town to the Castle,
on account of the resolute attitude assumed by Samuel Adams. The men
who lost their lives in this affray were buried in one grave, to which
they were followed by an immense procession, and for some years the
anniversary of their death was observed by commemorative ceremonies.
All classes in the community joined in execrating the soldiers, and
gave no ear to justifying or mitigating circumstances. Inflamed and
grossly inaccurate accounts of the transactions were drawn up and
scattered through the colonies and sent to Great Britain. But time
somewhat allayed the first feeling of animosity; and when the facts
became better known, it clearly appeared that the soldiers had fired,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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