Gage's Report to Lord Dartmouth on Lexington and Concord, April 22

[Fred]

Report on the Battles of Lexington and Concord in an Excerpt of a Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth
General Thomas Gage
April 22, 1775

My Lord

     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 Companys 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 [ie, Lexington]; Some few of whom first began to fire upon his advanced Companys 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 Difflculty they could keep out their Flanking Partys to remove the Enemy to a Distance, so that they were at length a good deal pressed. Lord Percy then Arrived opportunely to their Assisstance 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 Charles-Town, from whence they were ferryed over to Boston. Too much Praise cannot be given Lord Percy for his remarkable Activity and Conduct during the whole Day, Lieutenant Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn did every thing Men could do, as did all the Offlcers in general, and the Men behaved with their usual Intrepidity. I send your Lordship Lord Percy's and Lieutenant Colonel Smiths Letters to me on this Affair to which I beg Leave to referr your Lordship for a more Circumstantial Account of it. I have likewise 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 Surprizing Expedition, and Several Thousand are now Assembled about this Town threatening an Attack, and getting up Artillery. And we are very busy in making Preparations to oppose them.

Source: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=865

[gunville]

Fischer makes a point in his book about Gages report - Gage had it dispatched on the next (Navy) ship leaving for England.

(Sam) Adams and Hancock knew a thing or two about ships and recognized that as a slow ship, so they dispatched the Colonialist version of the story on a very fast ship - to get their version in the British press first.

They succeeded - by (if I recall) two weeks. This version showed the Regulars humiliated, old ladies taking prisoners, and depicting the Regulars as undisciplined looters. By the time the "official" story arrived, it was no longer "news", and not many paid attention.

This was a propaganda victory for the "rebels", tainting the Loyalist cause from the start in the British press.

[MeanStreaker]

I wonder how shaky and nervous the hand was that wrote those words...

[crak]

Holy runon sentence, Batman!

the Men behaved with their usual Intrepidity

I think I'm going to start using that in everyday conversation...