“Enough of that, for this confused State!”

Yesterday I rode along the Battle Road with folks from Old North Illuminated, so even though we’re no longer in Patriots Day season this report from April 1775 seems timely.

It was a letter to authorities in Connecticut, printed in the Norwich Packet newspaper on 27 April as well as on at least one broadside:

Cambridge, Saturday Morning, April 22

Gentlemen,

I HAVE waited on the general and the several Committees, and they all agree that the Men must come down to this Place, for we know not when we shall be attacked in this confused State.

The Troops in Boston are in Motion, and preparing to make an Attack some where; but we have no News from Boston unless by some few of the Inhabitants, that run the Risk of their Lives by getting out of the Town by Stealth, for Boston is shut up!---There is no coming in or going out any other Way!---

The People of the Town are all Prisoners, and what their Fate will be, GOD only knows; for the Troops have behaved in a very cruel and barbarous Manner; going into Houses and killing sick People, that were not able to go one Step, putting the Muzzle of the Gun into their Mouths and blowing their Heads in Pieces. Some Children had their Brains beat out!---Several Houses and Barns burned!---and, for Miles together, not a House nor Shop but had their Windows broke, and hundreds of Shot in them!---

There were about 40 of our People killed; but rather more of the Troops, and 70 or 80 of the Latter are taken Prisoners.---Enough of that, for this confused State!---

Pray let the Men be properly inlisted and officered; let there be Teams to bring Provision, and a farther Supply sent immediately after them. Take Care they be sent in good Order.
ISRAEL PUTNAM.
Hezekiah Bissell.

Putnam was, of course, the earthy, excitable militia colonel from Brooklyn, Connecticut, soon to be general. Bissell was a committee-man from nearby Windham. They wanted more of their colony’s troops to join them along the siege lines.

Most of the atrocities this letter described never happened. No sick people had their heads blown to pieces. No children had their brains beat out. The Boston selectmen and Gen. Thomas Gage were working out an agreement that would let people leave town (though that agreement fell apart weeks later).

Still, this report is valuable for showing the emotional tenor of those days, at least for some gentlemen.