123 



brother of Cul. Brown,* the uiaudamus counsellor. Be thia as it; may, 

 he was very soon whispering in the Colonel's ear, in the front of the 

 regiment ; and when he parted from the Colonel, the regiment marched 

 off" with a quick pace, in a direct course for the North Bridge ; just be- 

 fore their entrance upon which the draw-bridge was pulled up. The 

 regiment however rushed forward till they came to the draw-bridge, 

 not observing (as it seemed) that it was drawn up. The Colonel who 

 led them expressed some surprise ; and then turning about, ordered an 

 officer to face his company to a body of men standing on a wharf on the 

 other side the draw-bridge, and fire. One of our townsmenf (who had 

 kept along side the Colonel from the time he marched from the Town- 

 House) instantly told him he had better not fire, that he had no right 

 to fire without further orders, " and if you do fire (said he) you will be 

 all dead men." The company neither faced nor fired. 



The Colonel then retired to the centre of his regiment, assembled 

 his ofiicers, and held a consultation ; which being ended the Col- 

 onel advanced a little, and declared he would maintain his ground, 

 and go over the bridge before he returned, if it were a month first. 

 The same townsman replied, he might stay there as long as he 

 pleased, no body cared for that. The half brother before mentioned 

 (it is said) made towards the bridge, but seeing the draw-bridge up, 

 says " it is all over with us." He has since disappeared. Meanwhile 

 two large gondolas that lay aground (for it was low water) were scut- 

 tled, lest they should cross the channel in them. But whilst one gen- 

 tleman with his assistants was scuttling his own gondola, a party of 

 about twenty soldiers jumped into it, and with their bayonets charged 

 against our unarmed townsmen (some of whom they pricked) compelled 

 them to quit it ; but before this a sufficient hole had been made in the 

 bottom. This attack of the soldiers, and some other occurrences, occa- 

 sioned a little bickering, but by the interposition of some of the inhabi- 

 tants the disputes subsided. 



At length some gentlemen asked the Colonel what was his design in 

 making this movement and why he would cross the bridge? He said he 

 had orders to cross it, and he would cross it if he lost his life, with the 

 lives of all his men. And now (or before) asked why the King's high- 

 way was obstructed? He was told it w-as not the King's road, but the 

 property of the inhabitants, who had a right to do what they pleased 

 with it. Finally the Colonel said he must go over ; and if the draw- 

 bridge were let down so that he might pass, he pledged his honor he 

 would march not above thirty rods beyond it, and then immediately re- 

 turn. The regiment had nov/ been on the bridge about an hour and an 

 half ; and every thing being secured, the inhabitants directed the draw- 

 bridge to be let down. The regiment immediately passed over, marched 

 a few rods, returned, and with great expedition went back again to 

 Marblehead, where they embarked on board the transport without delay. 

 The regiment brought with them, lanthorns, hatchets, pickaxes, spades, 

 hand-spikes, and several coils of rope. 



When all the circumstances are considered, there can remain no 

 doubt that the sole purpose of the menceuvre was to steal away the ar- 

 tillery materials before mentioned. In the first place the regiment was 

 taken from the Castle, so that the inhabitants of Boston might be pre- 



* Col. Sargent. t Capt. John Felt. 



