All hope of reconciliation with Britain was now at an end. The provincials took possession of the stores which belonged to the government wherever they were able to secure them ; and at Newport in Rhode Island, the in habitants carried off no fewer than 40 pieces of cannon, intended for the defence of the place ; alleging, that they seized them in order to prevent them from being used against their liberties and their lives. The assemblies in all the colonies, voted that ammunition should be pro cured at the general expense ; and it required but little foresight to discover, that a civil war with all its fearful consequences, was about to ensue.
General Gage having received intelligence, that a number of field pieces were collected at Salem, des patched a party of soldiers to take possession of them in the name of the king. The people, however, assem bling in great numbers, prevented the military from ad vancing to the town, by pulling up a drawbridge which it was necessary for them to pass ; and they returned to the governor without accomplishing their purpose. The next attempt was followed by more interesting conse quences. The provincials had deposited a large quanti ty of ammunition and stores at Concord, about 20 miles from Boston ; these general Gage resolved to seize or to destroy ; and with that view he sent a detachment of 800 men, under the command of major Pitcairn, and colonel Smith, ordering them to proceed with the ut most expedition, and with all possible secrecy. But notwithstanding his care, and the alacrity of the soldiers, the provincials had immediate notice of his design ; and when the British troops arrived at Lexington, within five miles of Concord, the militia of the place were drawn up on the parade, and ready to receive them. A skirmish ensuing, several of the Americans were killed. The rest fled without making any lurther resistance and the detachment proceeding to Concord, destroyed. or took possession of the stores which were there. Having effected their purpose, the military now began to retire, but the colonists pressing upon them on all sides, they were driven from post to post, till they arrived at Lexington ; their ammunition being expended, they must infallibly have been cut off, it lord Percy had not been sent by the governor with a strong party to their assistance. In consequence of this reinforcement, they quitted Lexington, and continued their march toward; Boston, which they reached the clay after ; though not without frequent interruption and \ cry great difficulty. In the affair of Lexington, which has been justly regarded as the commencement of the American war, and in the retreat from that place, the British lost nearly 250 men.
The colonists elevated with their success in this en gagement, became more and more fixed in their oppo sition, and even meditated the total expulsion of the English from Boston. An army of 20,000 men encamped in the neighbourhood of the city : and that force was soon increased by the arrival of the troops from Con necticut, under general Putman, an officer of great bra very, and of tried skill in the military art ; but Gage had fortified the town so strongly, that, numerous as they were, the provincials thirst not attempt it by assault ; while, on the other hand, the governor was too weak to contend with them in the field. It was not long, however, before he was able to act on the offensive. A powerful reinforcement arrived from England, under generals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton : Martial law was pro claimed, and pardon was offered to such as would re turn to their allegiance. On the 16th of June, A. D. 1775, the Americans took possession of Bunker's Hill, an eminence which overlooks and commands the town of Boston ; and labouring with incredible diligence and secrecy, they threw up a redoubt, and protected it by means of an entrenchment, before the approach of day enabled the British to discover what they had done. From this position general Gage thought it necessary to dislodge them. Accordingly, he directed a strong body of men, under the orders of generals Howe and Pigot, to land at the foot of Bunker's Hill, and to pro ceed with a detachment of the artillery against the Ame ricans. But the latter having the advantage of the ground, poured upon them such an incessant and deadly fire of musketry, that the British were thrown into confusion ; and so many of the officers were killed, that general Howe was left almost alone. Yet though twice repulsed, the king's troops rallied and advanced again towards the fortifications which the provincials had erected. The redoubt was now attacked on three sides at once ; the ammunition of the colonists began to fail ; and the British pressing forward, the Americans were constrained to abandon the post, and to retreat in the face of the enemy over Charlestown Neck ; where they were exposed to a galling fire from the ships in the har bour. In this battle, the town of Charlestown, which is separated from Boston by a narrow sheet of water, was reduced to ashes by the orders of general Pigot, who was saved by that measure, as well as by the arrival of gene ral Clinton, from the ignominy of a defeat.