Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution

Gage's Instructions

Thomas Gage

The New York Times & Arno Press

Reprinted from a microfilm copy in
The American Antiquarian Society Library

Reprint Edition 1971 by Arno Press Inc.

LC# 78-140865
ISBN 0-405-01198-9

Eyewitness Accounts of the American Revolution, Series III
ISBN for complete set: 0-405-01187-3

Manufactured in the United States of America

General GAGE's

INSTRUCTIONS,

Of 22d February 1775.

To Captain Brown and Ensign D'Berniere, (of the army under his command) whom he ordered to take a sketch of the roads, passes, heights, &c. from Boston to Worcester, and to make other observations:

With a curious

NARRATIVE

Of OCCURRENCES during their mission,
Wrote by the Ensign.

Together with an ACCOUNT of their doings, in consequence of further Orders and Instructions from General Gage, of the 20th March following, to proceed to Concord, to reconnoitre and find out the state of the provincial magazines; what number of cannon, &c. they have, and in what condition.

ALSO,

An ACCOUNT of the Transactions of the British troops, from the time they marched out of Boston, on the evening of the 18th, 'till their confused retreat back, on the ever memorable Nineteenth of April 1775; and a Return of their killed, wounded and missing on that auspicious day, as made to Gen. Gage.

[Left in town by a British Officer previous to the evacuation of it by the enemy, and now printed for the information and amusement of the curious.]

BOSTON
Printed, and to be sold, by J. GILL, in Court Street.
1779.

INSTRUCTIONS, &c.

Boston, February 22, 1775.

Gentlemen,

ou will go through the counties of Suffolk and Worcester, taking a sketch of the country as you pass; it is not expected you should make out regular plans and surveys, but mark out the roads and distances from town to town, as also the situation and nature of the country; all passes must be particularly laid down, noticing the length and breadth of them, the entrance in and going out of them, and whether to be avoided by taking other routes.

The rivers also to be sketched out, remarking their breadth and depth and the nature of their banks on both sides, the fords, if any, and the nature of their bottoms, many of which particulars may be learned of the country people.

You will remark the heights you meet with, whether the ascents are difficult or easy; as also the woods and mountains, with the height and nature of the latter, whether to be got round or easily past over.

The nature of the country to be particularly noticed, whether inclosed or open; if the former, what kind of inclosures, and whether the country admits of making roads