[Extract]
Yesterday evening a Captain Irvine who escaped from Boston the night before with Six of his Crew, came to Head Quarters and gave the following Intelligence ー "That our Bombardment and Cannonade caused a good deal of Surprize and alarm in Town, as many of the Soldiery said they never heard or thought we had Mortars ー or Shells: ー That several of the officers acknowledged they were well and properly directed ー That they made much distress and confusion ー That the Cannon Shot for the greatest part went thro' the Houses, and he was told, that one took of[f] the Legs and Arms of Six men lying in the Barracks on the Neck ー That a Soldier who came from the Lines there on Tuesday morning Informed him that 20 men had been wounded the night before ー It was reported that Others were also hurt, and one of the light Horse torn to pieces by the explosion of a Shell ー This was afterwards contradicted: ー That early on Tuesday morning Adml Shuldham discovering the works our people were throwing up on Dorchester Heights, immediately sent an Express to General Howe to inform him, and that It was necessary they should be attacked and dislodged from thence, or he wou'd be under the necessity of withdrawing the Ships from the Harbour, which were under his command: - That preparations were directly made for that purpose as It was said, and from Twelve to Two oClock about 3,000 men embarked on board the Transports which fell down to the Castle with a design of Landing on that part of Dorchester next to It, and Attacking the works on the Heights at 5 oClock next morning: That Lord [Hugh] Percy was appointed to command - That It was generally beleivd the attempt would have been made, had It not been for the violent Storm which happened that night as I have mentioned before ー That he heard several of the Privates and one or two Serjeants say as they were embarking, that It woud be another Bunker Hill affair ー He further Informs that the Army is preparing to leave Boston and that they will do It in a day or two ー That the Transports necessary for their embarkation were getting ready with the utmost expedition ー That there had been great movements & confusion among the Troops the night & day precedg his coming out, in hurrying down their Cannon, Artillery & other Stores to the wharffs with the utmost precipitation, and were putting em on board the Ships in such haste that no Account or Memorandum was taken of them ー That most of the Cannon were removed from their Works and embarked & embarkg - That he heard a woman say which he took to be an Officers wife, that she had seen men go under the ground at the lines on the neck without returning ー That the Ship he commanded was taken up, places fitted & fitting for Officers to lodge, and Several Shot, Shells & Cannon already on board ー That the Tories were to have the liberty of going where they please, If they can get Seamen to man the Vessells, of which there was a great scarcity - That on that account many Vessells cou'd not be carried away and wou'd be burnt - That many of the Inhabitants apprehended the Town would be destroy'd, And that It was generally thought their destination is Hallifaxー
The Account given by Captn Irvine as to the embarkation & their being about to leave the Town I beleive true, there are other circumstances corroborating, & It seems fully confirmed by a paper signed by four of the Select men of the Town, a Copy of which I have the honour to Inclose you, which was brought out yesterday evening by a Flag and delivered to Colo [Ebenezer] Learned by Major Bassett of the 10th Regiment who desired It might be delivered me as soon as possible. ー I advised with such of the General Officers upon the occasion as I cou'd be [sic] immediately Assemble, and we determined It right, as It was not addressed to me or any one else, nor authenticated by the signature of Genl Howe or any other act obliging him to a performance of the promise mentioned on his part, that I shou'd give it no Answer, at the same time that a Letter shou'd be returned as going from Colo Learned signifying his having laid It before me with the reasons assigned for not answering It a copy of this is sent.
Tonight I shall have a Battery thrown up on Nuke Hill (Dorchester point) with a design of acting as circumstance may require ー It being Judged advisable to prosecute our plans of Fortification as we Intended before this Information from the Select men came.
It being agreed on all hands, that there is no possibility of stopping them in case they determine to go, I shall order look outs to be kept upon all the Head Lands to discover their movements & course, and moreover direct Commodore Manly and his little Squadron to dog them as well for the same purpose, as for picking up any of their Vessels that may chance to depart their Convoy - From their loading with such precipitancy, It is presumable they'l not be in the best condition for Sea.
If the Ministerial Troops evacuate the Town and leave It standing, I have thoughts of taking measures for fortifying the Entrance into the Harbour, If it shall be thought proper and the situation of affairs will admit of It.
Notwithstanding the report from Boston that Hallifax is the place of their destination, I have no doubt but that they are going to the Southward of this, and I apprehend to New York - many reasons lead to this opinion; It is in some measure corroborated, by their sending an Express Ship there, which on Wednesday week got on shore & Bilged at Cape Cod - the dispatches if written, were destroy'd when she was boarded - she had a parcel of Coal and about 4,000 Cannon Shot, Six Carriage Guns, a swivel or two & 3 Barrells of Powder: ー
I shall hold the Riflemen and other parts of our Troops in readiness to march at a moments warning, and Govern my movements by the events that happen, or such orders as I may receive from Congress, which I beg may be ample and forwarded with all possible expedition.
On the 6 Instt a Ship bound from London with Stores for the Ministerial Army, consisting of Coal, Porter & Krout fell in with our armed Vessels, four of them in Company & was carried into Portsmouth - she had had a long passage & of course brought no papers of a late date ー The only Letters of Importance or the least interesting that were found I have Inclosed. ー
[Endorsed] Read [in Congress] 15 March
