Mr. Grumman divides his book into two parts—“Military History,” (a terse and simple account of the campaigns in which Redding soldiers figured, with incidents) and “Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots of Redding,” a series of biographies which is the larger and more valuable portion of the work. In Part I he first sketches in sharp outline the two opposing forces which the troubles with England created in Redding as elsewhere—the patriots and tories. The former organized their “American Association,” the latter—very numerous and respectable in Redding—formed their “Redding Loyalist Association,” (perhaps the first of the kind in America), in February, 1775. “In the present critical situation of publick affairs,” to quote its preamble this Association adopted a set of “Resolves” which were published in James Rivington’s _Gazette_ for Feb. 23, 1775, as follows:— _First._ _Resolved_, That while we enjoy the privileges and immunities of the British Constitution we will render all due obedience to his most Gracious Majesty King George the Third, and that a firm dependence on the Mother Country is essential to our political safety and happiness. _Second._ _Resolved_, That the privileges and immunities of this Constitution are yet (in a good degree) continued to all his Majesty’s American subjects, except those who, we conceive, have justly forfeited their right thereto. _Third._ _Resolved_, That we supposed the Continental Congress was constituted for the purpose of restoring harmony between Great Britain and her colonies and removing the displeasure of his Majesty toward his American subjects, whereas on the contrary some of their resolutions appear to us immediately calculated to widen the present unhappy breach, counteract the first principles of civil society, and in a great degree abridge the privileges of their constituents. _Fourth._ _Resolved_, That notwithstanding we will in all circumstances conduct with prudence and moderation we consider it an indispensable duty we owe to our King and Constitution, our Country and posterity, to defend, maintain and preserve at the risk of our lives and properties the prerogatives of the Crown, and the privileges of the subject from all attacks by any rebellious body of men, any Committees of Inspection, Correspondence, &c. (“Signed by one hundred and forty one Inhabitants whose names are to be seen at the Printer’s.”—adds Rivington.) The effect of this document on the patriots of Redding was like that of a red rag on a bull. They at once set to work to discover its signers and presently made public in a circular the entire list so far as they belonged in Redding. It was given out by the Committee of Observation under this preamble.