A NIGHT OF TERROR.
Amos and Jim were early astir on Monday morning, the fifth of March,
but before noon came both were convinced that the threatened trouble
would blow over without the slightest semblance of a conflict between
the soldiers and the citizens.
During the forenoon they had not so much as heard of Hardy Baker, or
that faction to which he had allied himself, and Jim said, with a
quiet chuckle of satisfaction:
"I reckon the barber got as much of a lesson as he needed Saturday
afternoon, and has given over trying to set right the wrongs of the
people."
"He must be at work, or we should have heard something regarding him,"
Amos replied, and then ceased even to think of the apprentice.
Shortly after noon those assembled under the Liberty Tree,--and there
were quite as many as had gathered on Friday and Saturday,--were told
that the Council had discussed with Governor Hutchinson the question
of removing the troops from the city, and assured him the people would
be satisfied with nothing else.
It was also said the Governor had refused to do anything regarding the
matter; but that Samuel Adams had publicly declared the troops should
be sent away, and that without loss of time.
At about three o'clock in the afternoon, Amos and Jim heard once more
from Master Piemont's assistant.
It was told under the Liberty Tree that he had been seen in company
with Attucks, the mulatto, and half a dozen others, near Wentworth's
Wharf, and that Hardy had distinguished himself by taunting with
cowardice, a squad of soldiers, until the redcoats avenged the insults
with blows; but nothing more serious than a street brawl was the result.
"Perhaps I made a mistake, and Hardy didn't get as severe a lesson as
he needed," Jim whispered to his friend.
"If he didn't, he's likely to receive it before this day is ended, in
case he continues as they claim he has begun. It seems evident that
the citizens do not intend to carry this matter any further, and the
only trouble may be from such as Hardy. Let us go home and stay there
quietly. If the Sons of Liberty were to make any demonstration, we
would want to be with them; but if there is to be nothing more than
street brawls, we had better keep out of sight."
Jim was perfectly willing to act upon this suggestion, and
particularly because his father had warned him not to go in the
vicinity of the ropewalk, fearing lest the trouble, having originated
there, it would be a favourite rendezvous for those ripe for mischief.
The boys had hardly reached Amos's home, thoroughly confident there
would be no serious disturbance, when the alarm-bells began to ring,
and, as in the twinkling of an eye, the city, which had apparently
been so peaceful, was the scene of tumult and confusion.
Men and boys rushed from their homes into the streets. Those who were
already there ran to and fro in the wildest excitement, not
understanding the cause of the alarm, and prudent housewives barred
windows and doors as if each thought her home was about to be attacked.
As a matter of course, Amos and Jim went directly to the Liberty Tree;
but failed to find there the throng which had occupied Liberty Hall
almost constantly, with the exception of the Sabbath hours, since
Friday morning.
"The soldiers have attacked the citizens!" a man cried, as he ran up
Newbury Street at full speed.
"Where? Where?" Amos shouted.
"At the head of King Street."
The few who were waiting at Liberty Hall started immediately for the
scene of the supposed conflict, and Amos and Jim followed their example.
The boys had no idea of mingling in street brawls; but if unoffending
citizens were attacked by the soldiers, it was their intention to aid
the former to the best of their abilities.
Before they could traverse the distance between Essex and King
Streets, the alarm-bells had ceased ringing, and they met a throng of
citizens returning from the supposed scene of violence with
information that no outrage had been committed.
Samuel Gray, Jim's elder brother, was standing at the corner of Summer
and Marlborough Streets when the two boys arrived at that point, and
he explained the cause of the commotion by saying:
"A party of citizens, not over-gentle in their ways, attempted to pass
the sentinel near the barracks, and were received by him at the point
of his bayonet. One of our people was scratched slightly on the arm,
and at the sight of the blood some one more timid than wise alarmed
the city. You can go back, boys, for your services are not needed.
Take my advice, Jim, and keep off the streets."
"But I intend to be on hand if there is any serious trouble."
"I should hope so, for you are old enough, if not large enough, to do
your full share. What I meant was, don't get mixed up in street fights
between the soldiers and disreputable citizens whose proper place is
in the watch-house."
"I don't count on doing anything of that kind. Where are you going?"
"Up to Liberty Hall."
Amos and Jim followed, and, arriving at this common rendezvous, they
found that the people were once more assembled; but this time in not
as placid a humour as before.
The news of the encounter, and the needless alarm, had so excited the
people that the more impetuous ones were in such a frame of mind that
prudence would not be their first counsellor.
[Illustration]
The city, which had been in an apparent state of quietude an hour
previous, was now in a tumult, and when a squad of eight soldiers
marched past the Liberty Tree, as if defying the people, they were
received with epithets of derision and a shower of missiles thrown by
the angry members of the party.
The cooler-headed men and boys did their best to restrain their
companions, and the result was that the soldiers passed on, after
indulging in a few threats.
"One can see how easily a fight may be brought about just now," Samuel
Gray said to Amos. "The people are ripe for almost any kind of
trouble, and if the authorities were wise the soldiers would not be
allowed to show themselves on the streets."
"It seems as if those fellows passed this way simply to provoke us."
"Very likely they did; but it isn't because of such provocation that
we should resort to bloodshed. Our part is to preserve the peace, if
possible, while men like Master Samuel Adams redress our wrongs in a
proper fashion. I doubt not but that through his influence the
soldiers will be forced to leave the city; but nothing of the kind can
be brought about by street brawls and foolish threats.
The excitement among those gathered at Liberty Hall,--and there were
now very many reputable citizens present,--was most intense, and
continued to increase each instant.
Word was brought of collisions between soldiers and citizens at
different points, and although very much of the information was
afterwards ascertained to be untrue, no one questioned it at the moment.
It seemed apparent to all that the time had arrived when the question
as to whether the soldiery should be allowed to occupy Boston must be
settled by force of arms, despite the odds which must necessarily be
against the inhabitants in such an encounter.
Before sunset on this day the situation seemed to have changed
greatly, for the brawlers of Hardy Baker's class were now in the
minority, and it was sober, well-meaning citizens who occupied the
space under the Liberty Tree.
Rumours came thick and fast. Some claimed that the Sons of Liberty, as
an association, had that afternoon demanded of Governor Hutchinson
that the troops be withdrawn; others declared the demand had been made
and positively rejected, while the more timid insisted that the
soldiers were making ready to awe the citizens by such a display of
power, regardless as to whether bloodshed might ensue, and that within
the next twenty-four hours there would be found no one bold enough to
demand that they be sent away.
Amos and Jim, believing themselves in good company so long as they
remained with Samuel Gray, kept close at his heels, and he was not
loth to have them, for, like many another in the city of Boston on
this night, he was firmly convinced that the strength of boys, as well
as men, would be necessary before morning to preserve the slight
semblance of freedom which was left to the Colonies.
John Gray's fears that there would be trouble in the vicinity of the
rope-walk had been proven by this time to be groundless, for soldiers
as well as citizens had, as if by common impulse, avoided the scene of
the first serious outbreak, and at seven o'clock in the evening, when
the city was more nearly in a state of repose than it had been since
the alarm-bells summoned the inhabitants, Samuel Gray proposed to his
brother and Amos that they go to the factory.
[Illustration]
"I promised father I would look around there now and then, and if you
boys are not counting on going home to supper, I can give you
something in the way of a lunch from the store of provisions I carried
there this morning."
"We are certainly not going home while there seems to be so much
afoot," Amos replied.
"Then come with me, and we'll hope that the intentions of those who
are abroad this night are as peaceable as ours."
It was destined, however, that they should not partake of the provisions
which Jim's brother had stored for such an occasion as this.
On arriving at John Gray's place of business, a party numbering twenty
or thirty, led by Attucks, with Master Piemont's assistant by his
side, was seen marching toward the Custom House, shouting and hooting,
as if to prove their courage by much noise.
"It is by such as them that mischief may be done," Amos said, in a low
tone. "Hardy Baker cares not what statements he makes, so long as he
appears to be considered a leader," and he concluded by telling Sam
the story of the attack made the previous Saturday afternoon.
"I grant you the barber's apprentice is a dangerous sort of a lad to be
loose at a time like this. Nevertheless, there are reputable citizens
who believe the moment has come when we should stand for our rights, and
what such as Hardy Baker may succeed in bringing about, through their
folly, will perchance aid the righteous cause. We will follow them."
"To what purpose?"
"In order to learn if there is any preconcerted action among them. It
was whispered at Liberty Hall late this afternoon that arrangements
had been made for a demonstration in front of the barracks, and I
would be there if such is made."
"But do you believe in anything of that kind?" Amos asked, in surprise.
"Certainly I do, my lad. If Governor Hutchinson insists it is not the
desire of reputable citizens that the soldiers be sent away, it seems
necessary he should be convinced of his mistake, and--"
"Surely Hardy Baker and Attucks, and their following, would not be
taken for reputable citizens?"
"True, lad, but at the same time they echo the sentiments of even such
men as Master Samuel Adams. Do you observe that in all this excitement
no one in authority among us has advised that we remain quiet? It
appears to me they are willing matters should take their course, and
will not attempt to prevent the hotheads, hoping that through
unreasoning violence good shall come."
Amos, remembering all he had heard since the murder of little Chris,
began to believe Jim's brother was correct in his statement. He knew
full well that if Master Samuel Adams or Master John Hancock requested
the citizens to desist from gathering on the street, or from making
any demonstration against the soldiers, their wishes would have been
respected, and such brawlers as Hardy Baker been forced to remain quiet.
It was a revelation to him that a noble purpose might be attained
through ignoble means, and immediately he ceased to regard the
barber's apprentice as a menace to the public peace.
The party, headed by Attucks, continued straight on toward Dock
Square, and at nearly the same time a like party came down from King
Street, while yet another could be seen at the head of Union Street.
No less than six hundred men were now approaching a common centre with
cries of:
"Let us drive out these rascals! They have no business here! Drive
them out!"
"It is as was rumoured," Sam Gray said, quietly. "There is concerted
action here, and before morning Governor Hutchinson will understand that
it is the citizens of Boston, not a rabble, who demand the removal of
the troops. If the better class of people wish the redcoats to remain,
why do not some of them stand here to prevent mischief?"
Jim made no reply. He already realised that this was a movement of the
populace, and not an ordinary street brawl.
Each moment the crowd that had assembled in the square increased in
numbers; but it remained as orderly a gathering as ever assembled at
Liberty Hall until a squad of soldiers, evidently for no other purpose
than to show their contempt of the people, strode into the square,
forcing a passage through the crowd in an offensive and insolent manner.
Then came that cry which aroused those who heard it more quickly than
had the pealing of the alarm-bell.
"Town-born, turn out! Down with the 'bloody backs'!"
The soldiers lost their air of security and defiance as these words
were passed from one side of the square to the other like the waves of
the sea, and caught up in every direction by those on the adjacent
streets, until it seemed as if the very air was tremulous with the cry:
"Town-born, turn out!"
The soldiers disappeared; but the summons for those who would defend
their city's rights had so excited even the cooler-headed ones that
action was an absolute necessity, and yet no leader had at that moment
arisen to map out a course of action.
If their movements were concerted up to the time of meeting in Dock
Square, it was evident the plan of operations had not been carried
further than that, and the excited ones looked about eagerly for the
enemy, but, seeing none, began to vent their fury on inanimate objects.
The market stalls were torn down that the timbers might be used as
weapons; the fire-bells rang out their brazen peals; here and there
men excited almost to the verge of frenzy discharged a musket or
pistol in the air, and constantly were the numbers of the throng
increased, until Amos and Jim thought it was as if all the male
inhabitants of the city had gathered in one place to defend the town.
The pealing of the bells brought to the tumultuous scene those who did
not sympathise with the movement, as well as those that approved of
it, and among the former class were several well-known citizens, who,
believing the greatest danger was to be apprehended from such an
uprising, endeavoured, by all their powers of persuasion, to induce
the people to return to their homes, leaving to such as Adams and
Hancock the task of ridding the city of the redcoats.
So earnestly did these peacemakers labour that the respectful
attention of the greater portion of the gathering was soon secured,
and even those who brandished weapons, calling frantically to their
comrades to follow them to the barracks, listened, half persuaded, to
the words of these temperate men.
In half an hour the shouting, yelling throng had so far been reduced
to silence that Amos believed all danger of violence was over, when
suddenly there sprang up, as if from the very ground beneath them, a
tall man dressed in a scarlet cloak, his head covered with a white,
flowing wig, and, mounting the wreck of the market stalls, he stood, a
commanding figure, illumined by the rays of the moon.
"You have come here as men determined to obtain your rights," he
cried, in a ringing voice, which could be heard distinctly by all,
"and will you depart as children? Will you listen to those who counsel
soft words when you are confronted by the muskets of your enemies?
Will you, town-born, be thrust aside by the Britishers at every corner
of the streets? Have you come here simply to shriek for your rights,
and then to disperse quietly, lest you displease the hirelings of the
King? Are you afraid of punishment which may follow, that you would
slink away now? It is the town-born who must defend the town. It is
the town-born who shall relieve the town from the burden under which
it groans, and it is the town-born who this night should appear before
the main guard as their masters, not as their servants."
"To the main guard! To the main guard!"
The multitude caught up the cry, and as if in a twinkling the throng
was in motion, each pressing forward by the nearest way toward the
barracks.
The streets were choked with people, and as the vast throng spread
itself out toward the nearest approach to the quarters of the guard,
they were, by force of circumstances, divided into three divisions.
[Illustration]
Samuel Gray and his two companions were carried, without effort on
their part, with one of these bodies, and, by a singular chance,
pressed into close companionship with the barber's apprentice and his
comrades.
The direction taken by this last division led them directly past the
Custom House, and as they approached it Amos heard the shrill voice of
Hardy, high above the cries and shouts of his companions:
"There's the scoundrel who knocked me down! That sentinel in the
doorway blackened my eye because I dared ask to see Lieutenant Draper!"
The attention of the throng was thus directed to the single soldier
who stood on duty at the Custom House.
"Knock him down as well! Give him a dose of his own medicine!"
"Death to the 'bloody backs'!"
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Now the excited ones no longer thought of the main guard. They saw
before them an armed enemy, and he it was who had abused one of the
town-born.
Some continued to utter threats; but many flung bits of ice, frozen
dirt, and even such harmless missiles as snowballs, while not a few
pressed toward the soldier, as if to make him prisoner.
The man looked down upon his assailants defiantly, and, as if to show
more clearly what punishment it was possible for him to inflict upon
them, began deliberately to load his musket.
This action intensified the anger of the younger people, and they
pressed yet closer.
"Advance one step further, and I kill the man nearest!" the sentinel
cried.
"If you fire you must die for it!" Henry Knox[F] shouted from among
the throng.
"I shall shoot if they come nearer!"
As he said this the soldier levelled his weapon, evidently determined
to execute the threat, and at the same time he shouted lustily for the
main guard.
"That's right! Bring on your main guard! But we'll kill you first,"
Attucks cried, fiercely, as he made a dash forward, forcing his way
through the press, owing to his great strength.
Before he could reach the sentinel, Captain Preston, the officer of
the day, with a guard of eight men, came on the double quick from the
Town House, and forced his way, at the point of the bayonet, to the
sentinel's side. Once there, the newcomers provoked the throng to yet
greater fury, as they repeated the action of the sentinel, by loading
their muskets deliberately.
There were but few among that gathering who were not carried away by the
excitement of the moment; yet some retained their presence of mind, and
among these last was Henry Knox, who, calling several nearest him to his
assistance, succeeded in gaining Captain Preston's side.
There, seizing the officer's arm, to attract his attention, he cried,
imploringly:
"For God's sake, take your men back, Captain! Your life and theirs
will pay the penalty of an encounter now! The mob are beside
themselves with rage, and this small squad could do nothing against
them, once they were let loose."
The officer shook off his well-meaning adviser as he ordered his men
to stand firm and defend themselves with their bayonets.
How it happened Amos never really understood; it was as if, while he was
yet calm and collected, a sudden flare had come across his eyes, and he
realised nothing more until he was in the foremost of the throng,
pressing eagerly forward toward the red-coated enemy, without regard to
possible danger, as he joined those around him in yelling and hooting.
Men and boys in the rear were firing whatever missiles came to hand,
and friends were struck as often as foes.
Amos heard some one cry, and he thought it was Attucks:
"Let us fall upon the guards! The main guard! The main guard!"
He saw, as if in a dream, the mulatto beat down the musket of a
soldier with a club; he heard those directly behind him cheering
wildly, and he added his voice to theirs.
Somewhere from the rear came the cries:
"Don't be afraid of them!"
"They daren't fire!"
"Kill them! Kill them!"
He half turned his head, believing it was Jim who had raised the last
cry, and just at that instant he saw the mulatto aim a blow at Captain
Preston's head with the club; he understood that it was parried by the
officer's arms, and then noted with satisfaction the fact that as the
weapon descended it knocked a musket from the hands of a soldier.
It was to him more like a dream than a reality when he saw the mulatto
raise the musket quickly, as if to use it upon the officer, and at
that moment some one, Amos never knew who, shouted:
"Why don't you fire? Why don't you fire?"
Instantly, above the shouts and yells of the multitude, was heard the
sharp, ominous crack of a musket, then another and another, until six
reports seemed literally to cleave the air, while before him, and on
either side of him, Amos saw men fall; saw the crimson blood gushing
from gaping wounds, and then it was as if consciousness deserted him.
[Footnote F: Afterwards Washington's Secretary of War.]