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Cambridge, April 22, 1775.
GENTLEMEN: On Wednesday, the 19th instant, early in the morning, a Brigade of General Gage' s Army marched into the country to Lexington, about thirteen miles from Boston, where they met with a small party of our Militia exercising, who had no intention of doing injury to the Regulars; but they fired upon our men, without any provocation, killed eight of them, and wounded two others. Then they
We are, gentlemen, with great respect, your distressed friends and brethren. By order of the Committee of Safety.
J˙ PALMER.
To the Honourable John Wentworth, Esquire, Chairman of the Provincial Congress of New-Hampshire. Per favour of Mr˙ John Griffin.
Committee of Safety of Massachusetts to New-Hampshire Congress
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marched to Concord, where they destroyed part of our Magazines and Stores. However, our people collected as soon as possible, and repulsed the Troops, pursuing them quite down to Charlestown, where they encamped on a place called Bunker' s Hill. The First Division, which consisted of about one thousand men, went to Concord, and the Second Division, about the same number, who took the same route, supported the First Division as well as they could, but all were obliged to retire. Our loss is supposed between twenty and thirty killed, and a few wounded. Their loss is much larger. As the Troops have now begun hostilities, we think it our duty to exert our utmost strength to save our Country from absolute slavery, and we pray you to afford us all the assistance in your power; and we shall be glad that our brethren, who may come to our aid, may be supplied with all necessary provisions and military stores, as we have no more of either than what is absolutely necessary for ourselves. We pray God to direct you to such measures as shall tend to the salvation of our common liberties.