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The
British point of view: Excerpt
from the report of Captain Thomas Preston:
...In
my way there I saw the people in great commotion, and heard them
use the most cruel and horrid threats against the troops. In a few
minutes after I reached the guard, about 100 people passed it and
went towards the custom house where the king's money is lodged.
They immediately surrounded the sentry posted there, and with clubs
and other weapons threatened to execute their vengeance on him.
I was soon informed by a townsman their intention was to carry off
the soldier from his post and probably murder him... I immediately
sent a noncommissioned officer and 12 men to protect both the sentry
and the king's money, and very soon followed myself to prevent,
if possible, all disorder, fearing lest the officer and soldiers,
by the insults and provocations of the rioters, should be thrown
off their guard and commit some rash act. They soon rushed through
the people, and by charging their bayonets in half-circles, kept
them at a little distance. ..The mob still increased and were more
outrageous, striking their clubs or bludgeons one against another,
and calling out, come on you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster
scoundrels, fire if you dare, G-d damn you, fire and be damned,
we know you dare not, and much more such language was used. At this
time I was between the soldiers and the mob, parleying with, and
endeavouring all in my power to persuade them to retire peaceably,
but to no purpose. They advanced to the points of the bayonets,
struck some of them and even the muzzles of the pieces, and seemed
to be endeavouring to close with the soldiers. On which some well
behaved persons asked me if the guns were charged. I replied yes.
They then asked me if I intended to order the men to fire. I answered
no, by no means, observing to them that I was advanced before the
muzzles of the men's pieces, and must fall a sacrifice if they fired
...While I was thus speaking, one of the soldiers having received
a severe blow with a stick, stepped a little on one side and instantly
fired, on which turning to and asking him why he fired without orders,
I was struck with a club on my arm, which for some time deprived
me of the use of it, which blow had it been placed on my head, most
probably would have destroyed me.
On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of
heavy clubs and snowballs being thrown at them, by which all our
lives were in imminent danger, some persons at the same time from
behind calling out, damn your bloods-why don't you fire. Instantly
three or four of the soldiers fired, one after another, and directly
after three more in the same confusion and hurry. The mob then ran
away, except three unhappy men who instantly expired, in which number
was Mr. Gray at whose rope-walk the prior quarrels took place; one
more is since dead, three others are dangerously, and four slightly
wounded. The whole of this melancholy affair was transacted in almost
20 minutes. On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders,
they said they heard the word fire and supposed it came from me.
This might be the case as many of the mob called out fire, fire,
but I assured the men that I gave no such order; that my words were,
don't fire, stop your firing. In short, it was scarcely possible
for the soldiers to know who said fire, or don't fire, or stop your
firing.
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The
American Point of View: From
an anonymous source:
THE
HORRID MASSACRE IN BOSTON, PERPETRATED IN THE EVENING OF THE FIFTH
DAY OF MARCH, 1770, BY SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT WHICH
WITH THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT WERE THEN QUARTERED THERE; WITH SOME
OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF THINGS PRIOR TO THAT CATASTROPHE
...Whether
the boys mistook the sentry for one of the said party (a group of
unruly soldiers who had been about the area earlier), and thence
took occasion to differ with him, or whether he first affronted
them, which is affirmed in several depositions,-however that may
be, there was much foul language between them, and some of them,
in consequence of his pushing at them with his bayonet, threw snowballs
at him, which occasioned him to knock hastily at the door of the
Custom House. From hence two persons thereupon proceeded immediately
to the main-guard, which was posted opposite to the State House,
at a small distance, near the head of the said street. The officer
on guard was Capt. Preston, who with seven or eight soldiers, with
firearms and charged bayonets, issued from the guardhouse, and in
great haste posted himself and his soldiers in front of the Custom
House, near the corner aforesaid. In passing to this station the
soldiers pushed several persons with their bayonets, driving through
the people in so rough a manner that it appeared they intended to
create a disturbance. This occasioned some snowballs to be thrown
at them which seems to have been the only provocation that was given.
Mr. Knox (between whom and Capt. Preston there was some conversation
on the spot) declares, that while he was talking with Capt. Preston,
the soldiers of his detachment had attacked the people with their
bayonets and that there was not the least provocation given to Capt.
Preston of his party; the backs of the people being toward them
when the people were attacked. He also declares, that Capt. Preston
seemed to be in great haste and much agitated, and that, according
to his opinion, there were not then present in King street above
seventy or eighty persons at the extent. The said party (British
soldiers) was formed into a half circle; and within a short time
after they had been posted at the Custom House, began to fire upon
the people. Captain Preston is said to have ordered them to fire,
and to have repeated that order. One gun was fired first; then others
in succession and with deliberation, till ten or a dozen guns were
fired; or till that number of discharges were made from the guns
that were fired. By which means eleven persons were killed and wounded,
as above represented.
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