Men, with 2 Field Pieces, march'd as a Reinforcement under the Command of Lord Percy. This movement caused an universal Tumult thro the Country. Alarm Guns were fired, Expresses sent to every town, and in a few Hours a Very large Body of People were assembled under Arms from all Parts, who lined the Woods, Roads, and Houses. A[n] obstinate and Bloody Battle was the consequenc[e], when an incessant fire and general Battle ensued and an incessant fire was supported on both sid[e]s for 7 Hours, till sunsett, during which time the Regulars made a Retreat which does Honor to the Bravest and best Disciplin[e]d troops that ever Europe Bred. The fatigues and conduct of this little Army, is not to be parrelleled in History. They marchd that day not less than 50 Miles, were constan[t]ly under Arms, part of them at least from 100 Clock at Night till an hour after Sunsett the next Even'g, the whole of the time without any Refreshm[e]nt, attack'd by an Enemy they could not see, for they skulk'd behind trees, stone Walls, etc., and surround[ed] by not less than 10000 Men who most vigirou[s]ly assaulted them with fresh Men. In short considering the Circumstances it was almost a Maricle that they were not entirely distroy[ed]. When the battle ended they had not near a Charge a Man. The Kings troops had 57 Killed, above 106 Wound[ed], among them 2 Officers, who are since dead and several missing. The Rebels loss is not assertained, as there has been scarce any communication between town and Country since. They aknowledge they had 40 of their People killed, but this must fall Vastly short of the true number. Doct. Spring of Watertown says he saw betwe[e]n 70 and 80. The Officers in general agree they could not loose less than 150 or 200, among whom are 3 of the[i]r Captains. Thus I give You the perticulars of this most shock'g affair. I must now

discribe the State of this town. It is intirely invested by an Army of about 8000 Provincials who prevent all supplys and Communication from the Country. The Gen'l is fortifying the Town in all Parts, has bui[l]t a Number of Battery[s] at the Neck, at the bottom of the Common, round the beach to Newboston, on fox Hill, Beacon Hill, and all along from your land entirely to Mr. Wm. Vassells, on Fort Hill and Cops Hill at Bartons Point. So that the threatned assault upon the town now gives us very little disturbance. The Ge[n]'] has entirely disarmed the Inhabitants and has permitted Numbers to move out with their Eff[e]cts. We have been obliged to live intirely upon salt provisions and what stores we have in the house, and I thi[n]k we are very fortunate. foreseeing a political Storm we had been for some time collecting provisions of all sorts and have just furnish'd eno to last our family 6 Months. Mr Clarke has done the same. It is inconc[e]ivable the Distress and Ruin this unnatural dispute has caused to this town and its inhabitants. Almost every shop and store is shut. No buisness of any kind going on. You will here wish to know how it is With me. I can only say that I am with the multitude rendered very unhappy; the little I had collected, entirely lost. the Cloaths upon my back and a few Dollers in my pocket are now the only property which I have the least Command of. What is due to me I cant get and have now an hundred guineas worth of business begun which will never afford me an hundred farthings.

I cant but think myself very unfortunate thus to have lost so much of the best part of Life, to have my Bus[i]ness, upon which my happyness greatly depends, so abruptly cut short, all my bright prospects anialated, the little Property I had acquired rendered useless, myself doomed either to stay at

home and starve, or leave my Country my Fri[e]nds, forced to give up those flattering expectations of domestic felicity which I once fon[d]ly hoped to realise: to seek that Bread among strangers which I am thus crually deprived of at Home.

This I long foresaw would be the case. The expectation of this dist[r]essing Scene was the cause of that illness which sent me to Philadelph[i]a last fall: When I think of my present Situation, it requires all my Philosophy to keep up my spirits under this acumula[te]d Load of uneasiness. I can't help relating two Circumstances, which amidst all my distress Afford me real pleasure and have tended greatly to Relieve my anxiety, and it has fully taught me that present disapo[i]ntment may be productive of future good, and that we are indispensably obliged after we have conscientiously done what appears to us our Duty to leave the issue to that Almighty being, whose Fiat created and whose Providenc[e] Govern[s] the World: and weither Adversity depress or Prosperity chear us, we are equally bound humbly to adore his Wisdom and patiently submitt to his all righteous Dispensations. [Unfinished.]

Henry Pelham to Charles Pelham

DEAR BROTHER,

BOSTON, June 5, 1775.

Your letter of the 31st ultimo I duly rece[i]vd, and am pleased that it was in my Power to transmitt what You there requested by my very worthy Namesake Mr. Henry Bromfield Junr. I should have sent it sooner but could get no safe Conveyance. however hope it came in season to be serviceable. By him I likewise sent a letter I took out of the Post office for which

paid 2/5, which with II Johan, and 15/ in Change is I think the sum of your account. Harry doub[t]less gave you more intellegence respecting your Friends in this Town than I can in the Compass of a Letter, and I suppose inform'd you of my return to town the day I was last at your House: Sister Copley sailed saturday sivnigh[t] with her little Family for England. She desired her kindest Love to you and My Sister Pelham, is very sor[rly she could not make out to see you before she left the Place which was very sudden. I cant but say I am glad they are gone. I propose going there myself with my Mother, if I can prevail upon her to undertake the Voyage, which I am somewhat fearful I shall not be able to do. if not, I will endeavour to get her Consent for my spending the Winter there, which all my other fri[e]nds strongly urge, as I shall have nothing to do at home, and have no doubt but I shall be able at least to bear my expences there. This is a plan I don't allow myself to think I shall not execute. I shall in that case beg it as a favour that you would give me an introductory Letter to our Aunt whom I shall make it a point to Visitt. But before I go can't you contrive for me having an interview at the Lines? I want it much and beg if possable it may be soon. if you can appo[i]nt a time I will get there, but let it bee soon in the Monʼg and give timly Notice.

The inclosed Letter I am desired to forward you as soon as I can, and must be answerd as soon as possable. I have been for near a fortnight past much affected with a violent ague in my face, which I hope is now going off. I pray God to bless all my dear Friends at Newton. beg to be kindly Remembered to them an[d] am with affection and esteem dear Sir you[r] ever affe[c]tion[ate] Brother.