119 



tidings reached Danvers, a company of cavalry mounted tbeir 

 liorses and rode with all speed in various directions to arouse 

 the people to arms, 



" Each -with warlike tidings fraught, 

 Each from each the signal caught," 



and they were soon pouring in from the neighboring towns 

 in great numbers, apparently eager for an encounter. 



Not only in the neighboring towns were the people muster- 

 ing, but those situated at 30 or 40 miles distant, soon caught 

 the alarm, and were hastening to the scene of action ; so that 

 in a short space of time it was estimated that some twelve or 

 fifteen thousand men would, without doubt, have been assem- 

 bled at this place. 



A company of militia under Capt. Samuel Eppes, of which 

 the late venerable Gen. Gideon Foster was 2d lieutenant, arrived 

 from Danvers, and took up station near the distillery, where 

 they could overlook what was passing at the bridge, and as 

 '■'• the reg'lars" marched off, they formed across Federal on the 

 west side of North street, in double rank, and after the 

 regiment had passed, formed in behind, and marched by the 

 English music to the boundary of the town in South Salem, 

 just beyond the Mills. Many of the inhabitants of Beverly 

 arrived at the bridge in hot haste, before the troops had left it, 

 impelled by the desire to support their fellow countrymen in 

 the unequal contest. 



By the prudence and praise worthy forbearance of Colonel 

 Leslie, any serious collision Avith the troops was happily averted. 

 His conduct did not, however meet with the approbation of his 

 superiors, and for the failure of this expedition " he was tried 

 by a court martial, and cashiered, but was afterwards restored 

 to his former rank."* 



On the arrival of the troops at Marblehead they immediately 

 embarked on board the transport for Boston. The militia of 

 this place, like those in other towns, had also mustered, but 

 observing that the troops were disposed to return peaceably, 

 they offered them no molestation and made no demonstration of 

 triumph, f 



* Mason's Memoir. We think, however, there is some mistake in 

 this statement, as no mention is made of it in any of the newspapers of 

 the day, which they certainly would not have omitted to publish, had 

 it heen a fact. 



t The following account is from our late venerable fellow townsman, 

 John Howard, then a resident in Marblehead, and who was himself un- 



