2^ 1 {T/ll^f .jliC,*,^ A BRITISH ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF LEXING- TON ; AND THE LAST MEETING IN THE DOWSE LIBRARY AT No. 30 TREMONT ST., BOSTON. At a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society, held in Boston, on April 8, 1897, Dr. Samuel A. Green made the following remarks : — In connection with the memorable events of April 19, 1775, I will read the following copy of a letter written soon after that date by an English officer of rank stationed in Boston to the venerable Cadwallader Golden, of New York. Necessarily his information, however inaccurate it may have been, was picked up from hearsay, as he took no part in the deeds of that day. Naturally it differs much from the accepted accounts of the expedition, and without doubt was gathered from the various reports in circulation at the time. In our army during the late Rebellion tales based on mere rumors of the camp were known as " sink stories." Occasionall}', however, such reports, inexact as they may be, throw rays of side light, and help to clear up doubts and uncertainties ; and for that reason they have an interest, if not a value. The writer of the letter, Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie, was mortally wounded while storming the works on Bunker Hill at the head of the grenadiers, and died on June 24. He was a gallant officer, and a brother of General Sir Ralph Abercrombie. Mr. Frothingham, in his " History of the Siege of Boston" (p. 195), says: "When the men were bearing him ' I I I A/f away from the field, l>e begged them to spare his old friend Putnam. ' If you take General Putnam alive,' he said, 'don't hang him ; for he 's a brave man.' " In Trumbull's well-known painting of the battle, Colonel Abercrombie is represented as having fallen on the ground in the heat of the action, where he is lying near General Warren. To the courtesy of ex-Governor John D. Long, now the Secretary of the Navy, I am indebted for a copy of the letter which is given below : — Navy Department, Office of the Secretart, Washington, March 31, 1897. Dear Doctor, — I enclose you copy of a letter written soon after the Battle of Lexington, giving the British view. The original is in the possession of General Ruggles, who is now the Adjutant-General of the U. S. Army. Very truly yours, John D. Long. Dr. Samuel Abbott Green, Librarian, Massacliusetts Historical Society, Boston, Massacliusetts. Boston May 2d 1775 Dear Sir, — I arrived here the 23d Aprile, & was much Surprised to find the town Blockaded, by the Asia I suppose Genl Gage will send you an Authentick Coppy of what happened on the 19th I have made the Strictest enquiry amongst the OfBcers and can assure you upon honor, that not One Shott was fired by any of the troops, till three men at Lexington fired on Our Men a Sergt a Soldier & Major Pitcairns Horse were wounded by those three Shotts, Our Men destroyed Some Gun Carriages, three Guns and some flour at Concord, & no hostilitys or rather Shotts were exchanged untill the return of four Companys of Light Infantry who were advanced three miles beyond Concord, on their return, on a Bridge within a mile of Concord they saw two of the Light Infantry extended on the Bridge one of them was Scalped and had his Ears and Nose Cut off tho' not dead, the moment the Light Infantry & Grenadeers began to retreat they were fired on from every House and fense along the Road for fifteen Miles, I cannot commend the behaviour of Our Soldiers on their retreat. As they began to plunder & payed no obediance to their Officers, fortunately for the Grenadeers & Light Infantry Lord Percys Brigade were Ordered Out to support them or the flower of this Army would all have been cut off. By report they have thirty peices of Cannon and two Mortars at Cambridge, altho' they threaten yet I cannot believe they will raise Battyries against the Town, if they do I am certain I can take them, the Whigs are all leaving town & such of the Torys as pleases Come in, but they are few. Parties run as high as ever they did in Cromwels time, & was there not a Red Coat in the Country they would cut one anothers throats. I cannot pretend to say what Our Generals will do, but I think it is in the power of the Congress to prevent the horrors of a civil War The Colony of Connecticut have sent two of their Assembly with a letter to the General the purport of the letter is to prevent hostilities & hoping a method of pacification may yet be adopted. I am sorry to hear the Phreuzy of the people has shewn itself in your Province, as a particular mark of distinction was Shewn them in the Fishing Bill I flattered myself they would have been quiet. The Whigs have plundered the Houses of Judge Auchmuty Col. Vassals, & Hatches, and Captain Lorings, what other devastations they have committed We have not heard. I am glad to hear you are in good health and I have the honor to be Dear Sir your most Obedient humble Servant James Aberceombie Lt Col 22rf Regt. P. S. Since writing the above I am appointed Adjutant General. Lt. Gov Golden New York. To-day for the last time the Historical Society meets in this room, and the occasion seems to justify a few remarks by the sole survivor of the original Building Committee. A full period of twenty-five years has elapsed since the last meeting was held in the former building which stood on this site ; and at that time some of the older members indulged in various reminiscences, which are always a prerogative of age. It was then thought that the Society would remain here for an in- definite period, — certainly much longer than the quarter of a century that has since passed ; but human judgment is often at fault, and liable to err. At the exercises on the re-opening of the Dowse Library, Mr. Winthrop alluded to uhe fact that the Society had been in possession of the site for just forty years, and he expressed the hope that another term of at least forty years might still be enjoyed in security ; but the exigencies of the times have decreed otherwise, and tlie estate has now been sold. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 011 800 257 2 t The Dowse room, as we see it to-day, in form and dimensions is the exact counterpart of the corresponding room in the old building, though with a few slight changes in its internal arrangements. The library, here contained, is a collection of choice bool