Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/578

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550
First Stage of the War
[1775-1776

Return of the Commission, Non-commission Officers, and Rank and File, killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing, on the 19th of April, 1775. . . .

Total : One Lieutenant-Colonel killed ; two Lieutenant-Colonels wounded ; two Captains wounded ; nine Lieutenants wounded ; one Lieutenant missing ; two Ensigns wounded ; one Sergeant killed, four wounded, two missing ; one Drummer killed, one wounded ; sixty-two rank and file killed, one hundred and fifty-seven wounded, and twenty-four missing.

N. B. Lieutenant Isaac Potter reported to be wounded and taken prisoner.

Salem Gazette, April 25, 1775 ; reprinted in Peter Force, American Archives, Fourth Series (Washington, 1839), II, 391-393 passim.

Official bulletin, London Gazette, June 10, 1775; reprinted Ibid'., 945-946 passim.


192. A Woman at the Front (1775-1776) 
BY MRS. ABIGAIL ADAMS

Mrs. Adams was one of the most famous women of the Revolutionary time. These letters, directed to her husband, John Adams, then in Congress, illustrate one of the most valuable kinds of sources, private letters written by well-informed persons but not intended for publication. — Bibliography of Mrs. Adams : Memoir, in Letters of Mrs. Adams. — Bibliography of the siege and capture of Boston: Winsor, 'Narrative and Critical History, VI, 152-158, and Memorial History of Boston, III, 67-118; Frothingham, Siege of Boston ; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 136.

Sunday, 18 June, 1775. . . .

THE day, — perhaps, the decisive day, — is come, on which the fate of America depends. My bursting heart must find vent at my pen. I have just heard, that our dear friend, Dr. Warren, is no more, but fell gloriously fighting for his country ; saying, better to die honorably in the field, than ignominiously hang upon the gallows. Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the soldiers, and leading them on by his own example. A particular account of these dreadful, but I hope glorious days will be transmitted you, no doubt, in the exactest manner.

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong ; but the God of Israel is he, that giveth strength and power unto his people. Trust in him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him ;