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The Colonists' Case - Primary Source Document
Some words in the below documents have been substituted for understanding. The general perspective of the account has been left in tact
The Boston "Massacre" or Victims of Circumstance? (1770)
The tragic event labeled as a "massacre" for generations to come grew in part out of the growing tensions in Boston between the city's unhappy citizens and British soldiers called "lobster backs" by those who disliked them. John Adams, who later defended the indicted soldiers in court, said his clients had been provoked by a "motley rabble of saucy boys, negroes and mulattoes, Irish teagues and outlandish Jack tars. " Responsibility for the events that occurred in front of the Customs House on March 5, 1770, undoubtedly lay on both sides, but it was hardly a massacre-no matter how one looks at it.
BOSTON GAZETTE AND COUNTRY JOURNAL, MARCH 12, 1770
Section 1
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On the evening of Monday, [March 5, 1770], several soldiers were seen parading the streets with their drawn swords and bayonets, abusing and wounding numbers of the inhabitants. A few minutes after nine o'clock two youths, named Edward Archbald, William Merchant came down [the road] together, and separated at Doctor Loring's corner. [They passed] the narrow alley leading to Murray's barrack in which was a soldier brandishing a broad sword of an uncommon size against the walls. A person of mean [appearance] armed with a large club bore him company. Edward Archbald [scolded] Mr. Merchant to take care of the sword, on which the soldier turned round and struck Archbald on the arm, then pushed at Merchant and pierced through his clothes inside the arm close to the armpit and grazed the skin. Merchant then struck the soldier with a short stick he had; and the other person ran to the barrack and brought with him two soldiers, one armed with a pair of tongs, the other with a shovel. He with the tongs pursued Archbald back through the alley, collared and [hit] him over the head with the tongs. The noise brought people together; and John Hicks, a young lad... knocked the soldier down but let him get up again; and more lads gathering, drove them back to the barrack where the boys stood some time as it were to keep them in.
Section 2
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In less than a minute, ten or twelve of [the soldiers] came out with drawn swords, clubs, and bayonets and set upon the unarmed boys and young folk who stood [their ground] a little while but, [fearing the soldier’s weapons they left]. On hearing the noise, a man named Samuel Atwood came up to see what was the matter... and when the boys had dispersed he met the ten or twelve soldiers rushing down the alley towards the square and asked them if they intended to murder people? They answered Yes, by G-d, root and branch! With that one of them struck Mr. Atwood with a club which was repeated by another; and being unarmed, he turned to go off and received a wound on the left shoulder which reached the bone and gave him much pain. Retreating a few steps, Mr. Atwood met two officers and said, gentlemen, what is the matter? They answered, you'll see...
Section 3
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Immediately after, those heroes appeared in the square, asking where were the boogers (“bad guys”)? Where were the cowards? ... one of [soldiers] advanced towards a youth who had a split of a [wooden post] in his hand and said, “..., here is one of them!” But the young man seeing a person near him with a sword and good cane ready to support him, held up his [wooden post] in defiance; and [the soldiers] quietly passed by him up the little alley … where they attacked single and unarmed persons till they raised much [racket], and then turned down the Street, insulting all they met ... pursuing some to their very doors. Capt. Preston (British Redcoat Captain) with a party of men with charged bayonets, came from the main guard to the commissioner's house, the soldiers pushing their bayonets, crying, make way! They took place by the custom house and, continuing to push to drive the people off, pricked some in several places, on which [the citizens] were [upset] and, it is said, threw snow balls [at the soldiers]. On this, the Captain commanded them to fire; and more snow balls coming, he again said, fire! Be the consequence what it will! One soldier then fired, and a townsman with a [club] struck him over the hands with such force that he dropped his [gun]; and, rushing forward, aimed a blow at the Captain's head which grazed his hat and fell pretty heavy upon his arm. However, the soldiers continued the fire successively till seven or eight or, as some say, eleven guns were discharged.
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