American Theatre from May 21, 1775, to September 2, 1775

Summary

Wishful thinking that differences between the Mother Country and her recalcitrant Colonies might find amicable settlement ended with the gunfire on the Lexington Common. While New Englanders were closing in upon Boston, ringing it with redoubts and fortified lines from the Mystic River to Dorchester, the second Continental Congress forgathered in Philadelphia, and resolved itself, day after day, into a committee of the whole "to take into consideration the state of America." That it was critical, every delegate from each of the twelve colonies represented fully realized.

Advice was received on the second day of the session (May 11, 1775) that the British Ministry had declared its intention to enforce obedience to each and every act of the Parliament, objectionable, coercive, restrictive as they were. The army in America was to be reinforced by at least three infantry regiments and some six hundred marines. More vessels of war had been ordered into commission to augment the squadron already based upon Boston. Some of the new troops were to be landed in New York, posing the urgent question; how should they be re­ceived? Within a week the Congress heard, in stunned surprise, that a handful of irregulars had taken the fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, with their numerous military stores.

By May 21 only a few of the problems had found partial solutions. New York should not oppose the troops as long as they proved peaceable, and did not attempt to erect fortifications. The cannon and all other military stores from Ticonderoga and Crown Point should be inventoried and removed to the south end of Lake George, where a strong defensive post should be established. The Continental Association's restrictions upon exportation should be expanded to embrace Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, the two Floridas, and that part of Georgia, which had not yet sent delegates to the Congress.

Meanwhile, the depositions and affidavits proving the British had fired first at Lexington had sped by express through the Colonies. Their contents spread dismay among the merchants, whose fondest hopes had been built upon reconcilia­tion and an abandonment of all restrictions on trade; and among the Tories, who, in many cases, had suffered from the severity of overzealous Committees of of Inspection and Correspondence. But they sparked renewed military ardor from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, in every cross-road, hamlet, town or city where the momentous tidings were proclaimed.

In Boston, the British still reeled from the disastrous retreat from Concord. All supplies, except by sea, had been cut off, and many inhabitants had pled for permission to remove themselves and their effects from the beleaguered town. General Gage, seeing fewer mouths to feed, had considered approval of their desires, if firearms would be delivered up. But a great clamor arose from those loyal to the Crown. Only the disaffected would leave, and then Boston would be set on fire by the Rebels.

Rumors were rife of attacks to be made upon the town, upon Castle William, upon the shipping, before reinforcements could arrive. Armed boats from the British squadron were patrolling the rivers and the harbor, day and night, and the troops literally slept on their arms as the May days passed along.


 

. . . Our Circumstances appear daily more & more alarming. The men-of-war stop all provision vessels coming into our Harbour and send them to Boston, & the Captain of the Scarboro' has shown his orders to a Committee who waited on him, to stop all provision, salt, molasses, &c. coming to us, since which several Hundred arm'd men in the day time went down to the entrance of our Harbour... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Last Tuesday [30;May] about 30 or 40 Men from on Board the Scarborough Man of War, now in this Harbour, came on Shore at Fort William and Mary, and have tore down great Part of the Breast Work of said Fort, and did other damage. The Day before this Attempt, the Scarborough took two Provision Vessels, loaded with Corn, Pork, Flower, Rye, &c. coming in from Long-Island; which were for the... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Friday 2d at 3 A M a party of men from the shore fired into our guard boat, & wounded one man & several shott struck the boat; Do fired 7 shott (with Grape) at the Rebells, empd in makeing of boarding Nettings,
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Friday 2 Moored in Piscataqua River about 3 AM as the Scarborough's Boat and ours were rowing Guard, the former was fired on from the western part of Great Island, one Man was wounded and several Shot went thro' the Boat ー ½ past the Scarborough fired three Guns over Newcastle Town.
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Ordered, That Mr. [Walter] Spooner, Colonel [Ezra] Richmond, and Colonel [Nathaniel] Dwight, be a Committee to take into consideration the expence Captain [Elisha] Phelps has been at in supplying the Massachusetts Forces at Ticonderoga, and report. Ordered, That Deacon [Nathaniel] Bayley, Honourable Joseph Gerrish, Esq., Josiah Johnson, Esq., Mr. John Hale, Honourable William Sever, Esq., Colonel... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Lively came in from Marblehead and anchored between Charles Town and Boston by the Admiral's Order, and her Commander received particular instructions for his Guidance on that Station.2
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Lively and Nautilus came up, the Lively took the place of the Somerset, who went further down there not being water enough. ー A Prize was lately taken of a Ship loaded with flour, this will make up for what was lost in the fire.
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Orders and regulations to be punctually observed by his Majesty's Ships stationed at Charles Town Ferry. Vizt The Ferry Boats are to pass between Sunrise and Sunset and at no other time. An Officer is appointed by the General to regulate the passing of People with their Effects from Boston to Charles Town. So long as that Officer remains at the Ferry, the Boats are to pass; When he leaves the... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Fryday 2 High land of Plymouth S W. at 8 [A M] Weighd and Came to Sail Saluted Vice Admiral [Samuel] Graves with 13 Guns at noon ー Came too in Boston Harbour abrest the Town.
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Friday 2 Moor'd in Rhode Island Harbour A M sent 2 seamen in the Ship Peggy with Provisions to Boston,2
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The bearer Mr. Jno Hale apply'd to me for a Quantity of Powder for the use of your Province, but am sorry to inform you, that article is very scarce in this Colony and not to be purchas'd; what I have imported is on Government accts and by letters from N. York that I have lately Received, am very certain its not to be had in that Province, Neither in Rhode Island. I expect a large Quantity, but... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Sir  Herewith you have a memorial to the [Provincial] Congress now Assembled together, with a Copy of the Papers Laid before the Continental Congress. We should take it as a favor if you would lay the whole before the Gentlemen as soon as possible. Your Compliance will much oblige [&c].
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Gentlemen:  The annexed papers are Copies of what we laid before the Honble Continental Congress in consideration of which they came to the following Resolutions [Inserted is extract from the Journal of the Continental Congress for May 27, 1775.] From the foregoing it appears that to procure Restoration to Public favor, we have no Tribunal but yours to appeal to The annexed papers exhibit a full... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
The Committee appointed to view the ground near King's Bridge, delivered in their Report, and a map or Draft of the place thereto annexed. Ordered, That the said report lay on the table for the perusal and infmation of members.
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Upon motion, Resolved, That no bill of Exchange, draught, or order of any officer in the army or navy, their agents or contractors, be received, or negociated, or any money supplied to them by any person in America. That no provisions or necessaries of any kind be furnished or supplied to, or for the use of the British Army or navy, in the colony of Massachusetts bay; and That no vessel employed... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
I am sorry to tell you the Continent is not now so well furnished with powder as I expected  much less ー I wish and Intreat you if there's any way of getting powder & Saltpetre into your place ー that you lay a Scheme for it before it is quite too late  I imagine that powder may be got from the Cape ー or any of the foreign Islands or ports notwithstanding the contrary promises of the French... Continue Reading
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
On Monday last [May 29] the lady and family of his Excellency the Governor [Josiah Martin] embarked on board a vessel here for New-York; and the same day his Excellency set out by land for Cape Fear.
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
Do be so obliging to let me know if you have any News from the Northward as I boarded a sloop to Day who came from Charles Town before that from Rhode Island  he told me Capt. [John] Lindsey was there  from the disposition of the People here I am laying off Fort Johnston where the Governor is who has sent his Family to New York I am Dr Sir. [&c.]
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
June 1775 Thursday 2nd Moord off the Fort [Johnston] Sent a boat with an Officer who retd with Govr [Josiah] Martin, saluted him on coming on bd & going on shore with 13 guns, shifted our berth nearer the Fort,
Date: 2 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1
To the honourable Congress of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England now sitting. ー the Committee of the Town of Arundel in said Province sendeth Greeting Whereas, a Sloop [the Polly] , belonging to the Town of Arundel about three Weeks ago, saild out of this Harbour, and disposed of her Cargo at Plymouth, and having recievd her Effects, upon her Return, was seize'd and carried into... Continue Reading
Date: 3 June 1775
Volume: Volume 1

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