A Circumstantial Account Of an Attack that happened on the 19th of April 1775, on his Majesty's Troops
Files
Description
The British version of the events leading to and including the Battles of Lexington and Concord is presented in this broadside. The calm tone of the language and the lack of any graphic images is an intentional attempt to downplay the significance of the “unfortunate affair,” while it clearly blames “a few people” for instigating the violence. This broadside also accuses the Americans of scalping and mangling one British soldier while he was still alive.
This broadside was printed in Boston in 1775 by John Howe (1754-1835) who, along with Margaret Draper (1727- ca.1804), published the Massachusetts Gazette; and the Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser. This paper frequently received commissions from the royal government for printing and was clearly sympathetic to the Crown and its officials in the colony.
A transcription of the broadside can be found here.