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The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
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British forces evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, allowing American troops under General Washington to take possession without harm to inhabitants. The retreat was hastened by American fortifications on Dorchester Heights. Americans secured abandoned cannon and stores valued at 25-30,000 pounds.
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Extract of a letter, received by express, from the best authority, dated head-quarters, Cambridge, March 19, 1776.
It is with the greatest pleasure I inform you, that on Sunday last, the 17th instant, about 4 o'clock in the forenoon, the ministerial army evacuated the town of Boston, and that the forces of the United Colonies are in actual possession thereof. I beg leave to congratulate you, Sir, and the Hon. Congress, on this happy event; and particularly, as it was effected without endangering the lives and property of the remaining unhappy inhabitants.
I have great reason to imagine their flight was precipitated by the appearance of a work which I had ordered to be thrown up last Saturday night on an eminence at Dorchester, which lay nearest to Boston Neck, called Nook's Hill. The town, though it has suffered greatly, is not in so bad a state as I expected to find it.
As soon as the ministerial troops had quitted the town, I ordered two hundred (who had had the small-pox) under the command of general Putnam, to take possession of the heights, which I shall endeavour to fortify in such a manner as to prevent their return, should they attempt it; but as they are still in the harbour, I thought it not prudent to march off with the main body of the army until I should be fully satisfied they had quitted the coast. I have therefore only detached five regiments, besides the rifle battalion, to New York, and shall keep the remainder here, till all suspicion of their return ceases.
The situation in which I found their works evidently discovered that their retreat was made with the greatest precipitation. They left their barracks and other works of wood at Bunker's Hill, &c. all standing, and have destroyed but a small part of their lines. They have also left a number of fine pieces of cannon, which they spiked up, also a very large iron mortar, and (as I am informed) they have thrown another over the end of your wharf.
I have employed proper persons to drill the cannon, and doubt not I shall be able to save the most of them. I am not able to procure an exact list of all the stores they have left; as soon as it can be done, I shall take care to transmit it to you. From an estimate of what the quartermaster-general has already discovered, the main amount will be 25 or 30,000 l.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Boston
Event Date
March 17, 1776
Key Persons
Outcome
evacuation effected without endangering lives and property of inhabitants; british left cannon, mortar, and stores estimated at 25 or 30,000 l.; americans taking possession and fortifying.
Event Details
Ministerial army evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, at 4 o'clock forenoon; United Colonies forces took possession. Flight precipitated by American work on Nook's Hill at Dorchester. Two hundred men under General Putnam secured heights; five regiments detached to New York; remainder held until British fully departed. British retreat hasty, leaving barracks, works, and spiked cannon intact.