Here I sit on Buttermilk Hill
Who can blame me, cryin’ my fill
And ev’ry tear would turn a mill,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

Me, oh my, I loved him so,
Broke my heart to see him go,
And only time will heal my woe,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I’ll sell my rod, I’ll sell my reel,
Likewise I’ll sell my spinning wheel,
And buy my love a sword of steel,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

I’ll dye my dress, I’ll dye it red,
And through the streets I’ll beg for bread,
For the lad that I love from me has fled,
Johnny has gone for a soldier.

18 July 1776

Colonel Thomas Crafts, a member of the Sons of Liberty, read a copy of the Declaration of Independence to the Patriots of Boston from the east side balcony of the State House at 11 o’clock this morning.  Fort Hill cannons fired thirteen pieces of cannon and in return local Regiments fired their cannons thirteen times.  Thirteen colonies united in their desire for independence.

After the reading of the Declaration of Independence the Patriots removed the lion and the unicorn – royal symbols of Great Britain – from the State House corners and burned them in a bonfire in Dock Square.  Some townspeople are considering a new name for King Street, as well, as they bid farewell to the monarchy.

The Boston Local

Dear Bookshoppe friends,

The Declaration of Independence will be read in Boston next week from the balcony of the State House on King Street.  Printer John Dunlap of Philadelphia printed 200 copies of this document that lists our grievances against the King and our declaration of FREEDOM.

The Brewster Bookshoppe has facsimilies of the Declaration and a drawing will be held on the day of the reading of the Declaration in Boston.  To enter this drawing submit your name and the kind of parchment used for the printing of the original Declaration of Independence.

Best to all of you.

Rosemary

8 July 1776  Philadelphia:  Carrying copies of the Declaration of Independence from John Dunlap’s printshop (200 at last count) couriers are galloping to towns and cities in every colony with glorious news from the Continental Congress.   Since Great Britain has not “secured our Rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” the American people are claiming their right to break away.

Colonel John Nixon read the Declaration in Philadelphia.  Amidst the cheers and gun salutes the State House Bell tolled the good news.  All of the colonies will also soon enjoy copies of the Declaration; it will be posted on Liberty Trees and read aloud on street corners.  Let the illuminations begin.

• Sign on the Boston Latin School hung by Loyalist schoolmaster John Lovell shortly after news of the Battle of Lexington and Concord:

WAR’S BEGUN – SCHOOL’S DONE – DEPONITE LIBROS

18 March 1776  Boston:  After eight years of British occupation Boston is free, a victory for General Washington and the jubilant Patriots of Boston.

In just 8 months General Washington has turned the Continental troops into an army strong enough to force the British to evacuate Boston.  On March 4th and 5th 800 soldiers of the Continental Army and 1200 workers fortified Dorchester Heights  with 59 cannons Henry Knox delivered from Fort Ticonderoga.  To cover the sound of construction Patriot cannons bombarded the outskirts of Boston and thus Dorchester Heights was fortified before the British realized it.

Seeing their position indefensible, British General Howe, 11,000 British troops and 1,000 Loyalists departed Boston yesterday by ship.

Some are proposing the Continental Congress award a medal to the commander of the Continental Army.  Washington has plans of his own and will most likely move his troops to New York in the event the British try to enter the harbor there.

Boston Local

3 July 1775  Boston Gazette:  General George Washington arrives at Cambridge to organize the 17,000 colonial militiamen.

Warren was appointed a Major General by the Provincial Congress on June 14, 1775. His commission had not yet taken effect before the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought. He served as a volunteer private against the wishes of General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott, who requested that he serve as their commander. Taunting the British, Warren reportedly declared: “These fellows say we won’t fight! By Heaven, I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood!” He fought in the redoubt, remaining until the British made their third and final assault on the hill. Warren was killed instantly by a musket ball by a British officer who recognized him.

General Gage is said to have called Warren’s death of equal value to the death of 500 men.

Joseph Warren is survived by his fiance, Mercy Scollay, and five children from his marriage to Elizabeth Hooton, who predeceased Warren in 1773.

Burial services for this TRUE PATRIOT at Forest Hills Cemetry today at 11 o’clock.

 Dear family and friends,

I witnessed the bloodiest battle from my rooftop this morning.  Looking north beyond the Charles River I could see British cannonballs firing on Charlestown and regiments of Redcoats storming Breed’s Hill.  It looked as if the entrenched colonial militiamen were successful at first in answering the British charges but upon the third wave of grenadiers I could see the militiamen retreating over the hill.   Many are dead, I fear.

I pray your loved ones are all safe.

Saddened and anxious,

Isabella

The evening of the 19th of April in ’75

Dear friends,

Wounded British soldiers returning from battle fill our Boston meeting houses and churches; every available space in town has become either a morgue or an infirmary.  I hear of Redcoat casualties as high as 70 dead and 170 wounded at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.  But of the minutemen I have no reports.  Has anyone heard a report or spoken with eyewitnesses?  What has all this fighting accomplished?

Concerned about the victims on both sides,

Isabella