Braintree, 25 June, 1775.
My father has been more afflicted by the destruction of Charlestown than
by anything which has heretofore taken place. Why should not his
countenance be sad, when the city, the place of his father's sepulchre,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Scarcely one
stone remaineth upon another; but in the midst of sorrow we have
abundant cause of thankfulness, that so few of our brethren are numbered
with the slain, whilst our enemies were cut down like the grass before
the scythe. But one officer of all the Welsh fusileers remains to tell
his story. Many poor wretches die for want of proper assistance and care
of their wounds.
Every account agrees in fourteen or fifteen hundred slain and wounded
upon their side, nor can I learn that they dissemble the number
themselves. We had some heroes that day, who fought with amazing
intrepidity and courage.
"Extremity is the trier of spirits;
--common chances common men can bear."
And, "When the sea is calm, all boats alike
Show mastership in floating: fortune's blows
When most struck home, being _bravely_ warded, crave
A noble cunning."
I hear that General Howe said that the battle upon the Plains of Abram
was but a bauble to this. When we consider all the circumstances
attending this action, we stand astonished that our people were not all
cut off. They had but one hundred feet intrenched, the number who were
engaged did not exceed eight hundred, and they with not half ammunition
enough; the reinforcement not able to get to them seasonably. The tide
was up, and high, so that their floating batteries came upon each side
of the causeway, and their row-galleys kept a continual fire. Added to
this, the fire from Copp's Hill, and from the ships; the town in flames,
all around them, and the heat from the flames so intense as scarcely to
be borne; the day one of the hottest we have had this season, and the
wind blowing the smoke in their faces,--only figure to yourself all
these circumstances, and then consider that we do not count sixty men
lost.[83] My heart overflows at the recollection.
We live in continual expectation of hostilities. Scarcely a day that
does not produce some; but, like good Nehemiah, having made our prayer
unto God, and set the people with their swords, their spears, and their
bows, we will say unto them, "Be not ye afraid of them; remember the
Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons,
and your daughters, your wives and your houses."
I have just received yours of the 17th of June, in seven days only;
every line from that far[84] country is precious; you do not tell me how
you do, but I will hope better. Alas, you little thought what distress
we were in the day you wrote. They delight in molesting us upon the
Sabbath. Two Sabbaths we have been in such alarm that we have had no
meeting; this day we have sat under our own vine in quietness; have
heard Mr. Taft, from Psalms, "The Lord is good to all, and his tender
mercies are over all his works." The good man was earnest and pathetic;
I could forgive his weakness for the sake of his sincerity, but I long
for a Cooper and an Eliot. I want a person who has feeling and
sensibility, who can take one up with him,--
And "in his duty prompt, at every call,"
Can "watch, and weep, and pray, and feel for all."
Mr. Rice joins General Heath's regiment to-morrow, as adjutant. Your
brother is very desirous of being in the army, but your good mother is
really violent against it. I cannot persuade nor reason her into a
consent. Neither he nor I dare let her know that he is trying for a
place. My brother has a captain's commission, and is stationed at
Cambridge. I thought you had the best of intelligence, or I should have
taken pains to be more particular. As to Boston, there are many persons
yet there who would be glad to get out if they could. Mr. Boylston, and
Mr. Gill, the printer, with his family, are held upon the black list, it
is said. 'T is certain they watch them so narrowly that they cannot
escape. Mr. Mather got out a day or two before Charlestown was
destroyed, and had lodged his papers and what else he got out at Mr.
Carey's, but they were all consumed; so were many other people's, who
thought they might trust their little there till teams could be
procured to remove them. The people from the almshouse and workhouse
were sent to the lines, last week, to make room for their wounded, they
say. Medford people are all removed. Every seaport seems in motion. O
North, may the groans and cries of the injured and oppressed harrow up
thy soul. We have a prodigious army, but we lack many accommodations
which we need. I hope the appointment of these new Generals will give
satisfaction; they must be proof against calumny. In a contest like
this, continual reports are circulated by our enemies, and they catch
with the unwary and the gaping crowd, who are ready to listen to the
marvelous without considering of consequences, even though their best
friends are injured.
I have not ventured to inquire one word of you about your return. I do
not know whether I ought to wish for it; it seems as if your sitting
together was absolutely necessary, whilst every day is big with events.
Mr. Bowdoin called Friday and took his leave of me, desiring I would
present his affectionate regards to you. I have hopes that he will
recover; he has mended a good deal. He wished he could have stayed in
Braintree, but his lady was fearful.
Yours evermore,