Lexington and Concord – Affidavits (British)

Dunlap and Claypoole’s Daily American Advertiser/May 15, 1775

Concord, April 23, 1775

I JAMES MARR, of lawful age, testify and say, that in the evening of the eighteenth instant I received orders from George Hutchinson, Adjutant of the fourth regiment of the regular troops stationed at Boston, to prepare and march. To which order I attended, and marched to Concord where I was ordered by an Officer with about one hundred men, to guard a certain bridge there; while attending that service, a number of people came along, in order, as I suppose, to cross said bridge, at which time a number of the regular troops first fired upon them.

JAMES MARR

I EDWARD THOROTON GOULD, of his Majesty’s own regiment of foot, being of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the evening of the 18^th instant, under the orders of Gen. Gage, I embarked with the light infantry and grenadiers of the line, commanded by Colonel Smith, and landed on the marshes of Cambridge, from whence we proceeded to Lexington; on our arrival at that place, we saw a body of provincial troops armed to the number of about sixty or seventy men, on our approach they dispersed and soon after firing began, but which party fired first I cannot exactly say, as our troops rushed on shouting, huzzaing, previous to the firing, which was continued by our troops so long as any of the provincials were to be seen. From thence we marched to Concord, on a hill near the entrance of the town, we saw another body of provincials assembled, the light infantry companies were ordered up the hill to disperse them, on our approach they retreated towards Concord. The grenadiers continued the road under the hill towards the town, six companies of light infantry were ordered down to take possession of the bridge which the provincials retreated over; the company I commanded was one, three companies of the above detachment went forward about two miles, in the meantime the provincial troops returned to the number of about three or four hundred, we drew up on the Concord side of the bridge, the provincials came down upon us, upon which we engaged and gave the first fire. This was the first engagement after the one at Lexington, a continued firing from both parties lasted thro’ the whole day; I myself was wounded at the attack of the bridge, and am now treated with the greatest humanity, and taken all possible care of by the provincials at Medford.

EDWARD THOROTON GOULD

Lieut., King’s own Regt.

All the above are sworn to before Justices of the Peace, and duly attested by Notaries Public