An Account of the Clashes at Lexington and Concord, 1775
Issac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)
On April 19, 1775, Isaac Merrill, a colonel in the militia and a delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, sent this pressing message to John Currier, captain of the Amesbury militia, requesting assistance. Written in the heat of the moment, just hours after the encounters between Massachusetts patriots and British regulars, it conveys the sense of urgency that was felt by participants in the coming Revolution. Local militias responded to letters such as Merrill’s and laid siege to British-held Boston.
A Letter from Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775
Essex Co To John Currier Capt of a militerry foot Company in Amesbury this Day I have received intiligence that the ministeriel troops under the Command of General Gage did Last evening march out of Boston and marched to Lexington & there Killed a Number of our American Soldiers & thence proceed to Concord Killing and Destroying our men and interest: These are therefore to order you forthwith to Notify and muster as many of your under officers and Soldiers as you can possible To meet immedially to Some Suitable place: and then to march of forthwith to Concord or Else where as in your Descretion you Shall think best to the reliefe of our Friend[s] and Country: and also to order those who are now absent & out of the way to Follow after and ioin you as Soon as they shall be apprized of the Alaram and when you have marched your men to Some part of our army you are to appoint some officer to head them in case you return home your Self: till Some Further order may be taken: in this Faile Not Given under my Hand and Seal at Amesbury this Ninteenth Day of April in the Fifteenth year of the Reign of George the third Anno Domini: 1775
Isaac merrill
Coll
Source: Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00303.
A Letter from Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775
Essex Co To John Currier Capt of a militerry foot Company in Amesbury this Day I have received intiligence that the ministeriel troops under the Command of General Gage did Last evening march out of Boston and marched to Lexington & there Killed a Number of our American Soldiers & thence proceed to Concord Killing and Destroying our men and interest: These are therefore to order you forthwith to Notify and muster as many of your under officers and Soldiers as you can possible To meet immedially to Some Suitable place: and then to march of forthwith to Concord or Else where as in your Descretion you Shall think best to the reliefe of our Friend[s] and Country: and also to order those who are now absent & out of the way to Follow after and ioin you as Soon as they shall be apprized of the Alaram and when you have marched your men to Some part of our army you are to appoint some officer to head them in case you return home your Self: till Some Further order may be taken: in this Faile Not Given under my Hand and Seal at Amesbury this Ninteenth Day of April in the Fifteenth year of the Reign of George the third Anno Domini: 1775
Isaac merrill
Coll
Source: Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00303.
intiligence (intelligence) - gathering of secret information
ministeriel (ministerial) - bearing executive authority (the king’s authority)
muster - assemble troops for battle
Background
On April 19, 1775, Isaac Merrill, a colonel in the militia and a delegate to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, sent this pressing message to John Currier, captain of the Amesbury militia, requesting assistance. Written in the heat of the moment, just hours after the encounters between Massachusetts patriots and British regulars, it conveys the sense of urgency that was felt by participants in the coming Revolution. Local militias responded to letters such as Merrill’s and laid siege to British-held Boston.
Transcript
A Letter from Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775
Essex Co To John Currier Capt of a militerry foot Company in Amesbury this Day I have received intiligence that the ministeriel troops under the Command of General Gage did Last evening march out of Boston and marched to Lexington & there Killed a Number of our American Soldiers & thence proceed to Concord Killing and Destroying our men and interest: These are therefore to order you forthwith to Notify and muster as many of your under officers and Soldiers as you can possible To meet immedially to Some Suitable place: and then to march of forthwith to Concord or Else where as in your Descretion you Shall think best to the reliefe of our Friend[s] and Country: and also to order those who are now absent & out of the way to Follow after and ioin you as Soon as they shall be apprized of the Alaram and when you have marched your men to Some part of our army you are to appoint some officer to head them in case you return home your Self: till Some Further order may be taken: in this Faile Not Given under my Hand and Seal at Amesbury this Ninteenth Day of April in the Fifteenth year of the Reign of George the third Anno Domini: 1775
Isaac merrill
Coll
Source: Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00303.
Excerpt
A Letter from Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775
Essex Co To John Currier Capt of a militerry foot Company in Amesbury this Day I have received intiligence that the ministeriel troops under the Command of General Gage did Last evening march out of Boston and marched to Lexington & there Killed a Number of our American Soldiers & thence proceed to Concord Killing and Destroying our men and interest: These are therefore to order you forthwith to Notify and muster as many of your under officers and Soldiers as you can possible To meet immedially to Some Suitable place: and then to march of forthwith to Concord or Else where as in your Descretion you Shall think best to the reliefe of our Friend[s] and Country: and also to order those who are now absent & out of the way to Follow after and ioin you as Soon as they shall be apprized of the Alaram and when you have marched your men to Some part of our army you are to appoint some officer to head them in case you return home your Self: till Some Further order may be taken: in this Faile Not Given under my Hand and Seal at Amesbury this Ninteenth Day of April in the Fifteenth year of the Reign of George the third Anno Domini: 1775
Isaac merrill
Coll
Source: Isaac Merrill to John Currier, April 19, 1775, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00303.
intiligence (intelligence) - gathering of secret information
ministeriel (ministerial) - bearing executive authority (the king’s authority)
muster - assemble troops for battle
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