Extracts from a letter from General Thomas Gage, Commander-in-Chief, North America to the Earl of Dartmouth, 22 April 1775. Catalogue ref: CO 5/92 f134-135.
From 18 and 19 April 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord broke out, which were the first clashes between British and American fighters in the War of Independence. The British attempted to disperse Massachusetts militiamen who had assembled around Boston to protect the harbour from being seized. For the British, Boston with its access to the sea was essential for the re-supply of men and munitions however difficult, by the threat of American ships.
Transcript
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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 23rd, 47th, and marines, under the command of Lord Percy.”
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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.
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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 an attack and getting up artillery. And we are very busy in making preparations to oppose them.
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- What does this letter tell us about the causes of the early skirmishes of the Revolution?
- What can we learn about British thinking about early colonial resistance?
- What does this source infer about military tactics on both sides in the early months of the war?
- Look at the lesson illustration at the top of the page. Explain how it supports information provided by this letter from General Gage to Lord Dartmouth about events at Concord.