| Citation |
NYM(G.770.075
2 Jul 1770:212 (975)
[News from London, April 23.] Case of Capt. Thomas Preston
of the 29th Regiment. . . .[Description of events in Boston,
townspeople vis-a-vis soldiers of the 29th regiment, from
the British captain's point-of-view. Includes] On Monday
night about eight o'clock two soldiers were attacked and
beat. But the part of the townspeople, 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 to inform 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. . . [extensive details of Boston "mob" versus
British soldiers, leads to] 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. . . [more, including subsequent trial.]
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