| Citation |
EG.770.017
19-26 Jun 1770:1921,1922 (2/100)
London, April 28. Case of Capt. Thomas Preston, of the 29th
Regiment.
[Paragraph describing arguments between citizens and
soldiers.]
On Monday night about eight o'clock two soldiers were
attacked and beat. But the party of towns-people, in order
to carry matters to the utmost length, broke into two
Meeting-Houses, and rang the alarm bells, which I supposed
was for fire, as usual, but was soon undeceived. About nine
some of the guard came and informed me, the Town-Inhabitants
were assembling to attack the troops, and that the bells
were ringing as the signal for that purpose, and not for
fire, and the beacon intended to be fired to bring in the
distant people of the country. [Several paragraphs on the
incident.]
I judged it unsafe to remain there any longer, and therefore
sent the party and sentry to the Main-Guard, where the
street is narrow and short, there telling them off into
street-firings, divided and planted them at each end of the
street to secure their rear, momently expecting an attack,
as there was a constant cry of the inhabitants, "To Arms, To
Arms,-- turn out with your guns," and the town drums beating
to arms. I ordered my drum to beat to arms, and being soon
after joined by the different companies of the 29th
Regiment, I formed them as the guard into street-firings.
[Several paragraphs on the incident, told by Capt. Preston,
which indicates that malcontents in the regiment perjured
themselves to indict him for calling "Fire", thus shooting
the unarmed citizens.]
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