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[American Revolutionary War]. Expenses for the Lexington Alarm and the Battle of Bunker Hill. ...
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Description
[American Revolutionary War]. Expenses for the Lexington Alarm and the Battle of Bunker Hill. One page, 6.93" x 11.37", Massachusetts; 1775. List of expenses from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the town of Newport, Rhode Island for express horse riders who acquired and distributed intelligence on the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. For sixteen men, the colony paid twenty-eight pounds, three shillings, and ten and a quarter pence. Docketed on verso.Although Paul Revere was perhaps the most famous express rider in American history, George Washington and the thirteen colonies depended upon equestrian messengers throughout the Revolutionary War. Express riders acted as the fastest form of communication in the eighteenth century and local governments relied on such men to keep each other abreast of impending battles and troop movements. Riders like the ones included here focused solely on carrying information from point A to point B, stopping only to rest, eat, and care for their horse. In this document, riders both alerted towns of the recent battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill and gathered intelligence. For example, Massachusetts allotted seventeen shillings and four pence to Timothy Wyer "for himself, expence [sic] & Horse to carry Intelligence of the alarum [sic] of the Battle at Lexington to Portsmouth." At the same time, Enoch Plummer received only six shillings for "himself, Expence [sic], & horse to Bradford to gain Intelligence of the aform.d alarum [sic]."
The battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill took place less than two months apart from each other and are remembered as the first engagements between Patriot and British forces in the Revolutionary War. At Lexington, American leaders heard rumors of a possible British incursion and relied on messengers like Wyer and Plummer to gather critical intel on the Crown's plans. It is here that Paul Revere made his fateful ride along with five others to warn Boston and nearby towns that the British regulars were headed to Concord. On April 19, 1775, the redcoats arrived at Lexington to face a small force of militiamen. Although the Patriots quickly lost the town, they were able to chase British forces out of Concord later that day. The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775 and resulted in a Patriot loss. However, the American militias proved that they could go up against the might of the British forces, boosting morale for the Revolution.
Condition: Creased along folds with minor paper loss at left, right, and bottom margins. Toning throughout with minor stain at the right margin. Cello tape repairs and pencil notations in the upper right corner verso.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
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