March 9, 1776

My Dear Ms Thomas

We have for Sum time bin preparing to Take Dorfester
Point & Last monday Nigh about Seven oclock I marched
with about Three Thousand Picked men besid 360 ox Teams
& Sum Peases of artilery & Two Companys of the Train the
Teams ware Laden with materials for our works
about 8 oclock we ascended The High Hill & by Day Light
we Got 2 Hill Defenceble about Sunrise the Enemy & others
in Boston appeared Numerious on the Tops of Houses & on
the wharfes vewing us with astonishment for the appearance
was unexpected to them. The Cannonading which had bin kept
up all Night from our Lines at Lambs Dam & from the Enemys
Enemys Lines Likewise at Leachmere Point now Seased in
These Quarters & the Enemy Turned there Fire Toward us an the
Hills but They Soon Found it was to Little effect about Ten oClock
we Discovered Large Bodys of Troops Imbarking in Boats with
There artilery & they made a fermidable appearance after Sum
Time They were Put on Board Transports & Several of The Ships
Came Down Near the Castle as we Supposed with a Design to Land
on our Shore [ & I?] People Seeming in Spirits to Receve Them for
we were now Got in a Good Poster of Defence & had Two Thousand
men added to our Number the Enemy vewed us very Criticaly
they Remained in that Situation that Night the Next Day
they Came to Sail & Returned to Town & Landed Their Troops
& Fryday about 2 oClock P.M. they Sent a flag of Truce to our
Lines with a paper the Copy of which I have Inclosed I have
had very Little Rest or Sleep this week being Closlly Imployed
Night & Day but Now I Think well Secured I write this in haist
Thinking you may be anctious herring as I Suppose much Firing
this way we Lost but Two men Killed with [Their fire?] in all
this affair how Thing are in Boston or what loss they have
met with from our Shot & Shell at present we are not Informed
but I am Sensible we Distress Them much from the appearance
I have wrote you Inclosed by the Same hand I am in haist
Dorfester Hill in a Small hutt     Jno Thomas
March ye 9th 1776
Your son John is well & in high Spirits he Ran away from [oakley?]
Privately on Tuesday morning & Got by the Centerys & Came to me
on Dorfester where he has bin mostly sence.