The hostile feelings to the British government previously evinced by the Americans appeared to increase during the winter and succeeding spring; and the preparations which they made for open resistance indicated a design to make a speedy appeal to arms. General Gage, who commanded the troops at Boston, sent the flank companies of the King's Own, and other regiments under his orders, up the country to Concord, to destroy a quantity of military stores which the inhabitants were collecting at that place. This circumstance occasioned the first blood to be shed in the contest.

The flank companies were placed under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Francis Smith, of the tenth foot, and having embarked on the night of the 18th of April, in the boats of the men-of-war in the harbour, proceeded to the entrance of the Cambridge River, where they landed, and afterwards advanced up the country. While on the march, the troops heard the ringing of bells, firing of guns, and other sounds of alarm spreading over the country; and when the light companies, which were in advance, arrived at the village of Lexington, they descried a body of provincials formed upon the green. These men fired several shots at the soldiers, who immediately retaliated, and the Americans were dispersed with the loss of about ten men killed, and several wounded.

The troops continued their march to Concord, and while the search for military stores was taking place, the light companies of the King's Own and tenth regiment were posted on some heights in the vicinity of a bridge beyond the town. Meanwhile armed countrymen were assembling in crowds on the high grounds near the town, and a large body proceeding towards the bridge, the light companies of the King's Own and tenth regiment descended from the heights and joined the troops posted at the bridge. The provincials advanced in great numbers, and firing on the troops, killed three men, and wounded several others; the fire was returned, and the detached companies joined the main body in the town.

After destroying three pieces of ordnance, burning a number of carriage-wheels, and throwing a quantity of gunpowder and musket-balls into the river, the troops commenced their march back to Boston. On emerging from the town, the soldiers were fired upon from the walls, fences, trees, barns, &c., on both sides of the road; the country appeared swarming with armed men, and the troops were engaged fighting and retreating until they were exhausted, and had expended nearly all their ammunition; at the same time the numbers of their antagonists were constantly increasing. Fortunately, they were met at Lexington by the battalion companies of the King's Own, twenty-third and forty-ninth regiments, with a party of marines and two field-pieces, under the command of Colonel Earl Percy of the fifth foot. The fire of the field-pieces checked the Americans; Earl Percy formed his brigade into a square, with the exhausted flank companies in the centre, and after the men had rested a short time, commenced his march for Boston. The Americans hung upon his rear in crowds, and kept up a constant fire; but the troops continued their march in excellent order to Charlestown, from whence they crossed the river in boats to Boston, under the cover of the guns of a man-of-war stationed near the ferry. The loss of the King's Own on this occasion was Lieutenant Knight and seven private men killed; Lieutenant Gould wounded and taken prisoner; three serjeants, one drummer, and twenty-one private men wounded; and eight men missing.

This was the commencement of open hostilities; the whole country round Boston was in the utmost agitation, and multitudes of countrymen equipped for battle repaired to Cambridge and Roxburg, and there threw up entrenchments. All intercourse between the garrison of Boston and the adjacent country was cut off, and the town was completely blocked up on the land side.

Soon after this event the party of the King's Own stationed at Marshfield was withdrawn, and rejoined the regiment at Boston.

The rapid and judicious movements of the Americans appeared to be the result of a preconcerted plan, and having a very great superiority of numbers, they meditated driving the King's troops out of Boston. During the night of the 16th of June an immense body of provincials proceeded to the heights on the peninsula of Charlestown called Bunker's Hill, and commenced throwing up entrenchments with great diligence. General Gage resolved to dislodge the enemy from this post immediately, and a body of troops, of which the grenadier and light companies of the King's Own formed part, was embarked in boats for this purpose about mid-day on the 17th of June.

About three o'clock in the afternoon the attack commenced, and in this contest British valour and discipline were eminently displayed. The Americans were in great force, strongly posted, and entrenched up to the teeth. The King's troops had to advance in a hot summer's day, in the face of a sharp and well-directed fire, and to ascend a steep hill covered with grass reaching to their knees, and intersected with walls and fences of various enclosures: twice they were stopped, and twice they returned to the charge, and by their undaunted resolution and steady perseverance they eventually triumphed over thrice their own numbers, and carried the heights at the point of the bayonet. This proved one of the most sanguinary battles on record, and the superiority of the British troops was pre-eminently displayed. The two flank companies of the King's Own had one serjeant and thirteen rank and file killed; Captains Balfour and West, Lieutenants Baron and Brown, one serjeant, one drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded.

1776

Although the valour and discipline of the small British force in North America were so conspicuous as to excite the admiration and applause of their country, yet the circumstances in which the army at Boston was eventually placed rendered it impossible for these excellent qualities to be exercised with the prospect of ultimate success. The immense superiority of numbers of the enemy, the great strength of the works thrown up on Phipp's farm, Dorchester heights, and other places, with the want of provisions, induced the commander of the troops, Lieut.-General Sir William Howe, to vacate the town, and proceed with the army to Halifax, in Nova Scotia. This resolution was carried into effect in the middle of March, 1776; and on their arrival at Halifax several regiments were landed.