wood,
Robert Polley,
Samuel Condon,
Daniel
Usher, Josiah Simpson,
Henry Knox,
Gillam
Bass, John Hickling,
Richard Palmes,
Benjamin
Frizzel, and others ; whose depositions are in
the appendix.
Soon after the firing, a drum with a party
from the main guard went to Murray's and
the other barracks, beating an alarm as they
went, which with the firing had the effect of a
signal for action. Whereupon all the soldiers of
the 29th regiment, or the main body of them,
appeared in
Kingstreet under arms ; and seem-
ed bent on a further massacre of the inhabi-
tants, which was with great difficulty prevented.
They were drawn up between the
State House
and main guard : their lines extending across
the street and facing down
Kingstreet, where the
town-people were assembled. The first line
kneeled ; and the whole of the first plattoon [platoon]
pre-
sented their guns ready to fire, as soon as the
word should be given. They continued in that
posture a considerable time. But by the good
Providence of God, they were restrained from firing.
That they then went into
Kingstreet with
such a disposition will appear probable by the
two following depositions.
Mrs. Mary Gardner, living in Atkinson street,
declares, that on
Monday evening the 5th of
March current, and before the guns fired in
Kingstreet, there were a number of soldiers
as-
sembled from Green's barracks towards the street,
and opposite to her gate ; that they stood very