The Virginia Gazette

CAMBRIDGE, March 21.

Last Sabbath the British army in Boston, under General Howe, consisting of upwards of 7000 men, after suffering an ignominious blockade for many months past, disgracefully quitted all their strong holds in Boston and Charlestown, fled from before the army of the United Colonies, and took refuge on board their ships. The most material particulars of this signal event are as follow: About 9 o'clock a body of the enemy were seen to march from Bunker's Hill, and at the same time a very great number of boats, filled with troops, put off from Boston, and made for the shipping, which mostly lay below the Castle.
On the first discovery of these movements, the continental army immediately paraded, several regiments embarked in boats, and proceeded down the river from this place. About the same time two men were sent to Bunker's Hill, in order to make discoveries. They proceeded accordingly; and, when arrived, making a signal that the fort was evacuated, a detachment was immediately sent down from the army, to take possession of it. The troops in the river, which were commanded by General Putnam, landed at Sewall's Point; where they received intelligence that all the British troops had left Boston; on which a detachment was sent to take possession of the town, while the main body returned up the river. About the same time General Ward, attended by about 500 troops from Roxbury, under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Learned (who unbarred and opened the gates) entered the town on that quarter, Ensign Richards carrying the standard. The command of the whole being then given to General Putnam, he proceeded to take possession of all the important posts, and thereby became possessed, in the name of the Thirteen United Colonies of North America, of all the fortresses in that large and once populous and flourishing metropolis, which the flower of the British army, headed by an experienced General, and supported by a formidable fleet of men of war, had, but an hour before, evacuated in the most precipitate and cowardly manner. It was found that a great part of the evacuated houses had been pillaged, the furniture broken and destroyed, and many of the buildings greatly damaged. It is worthy of notice, however, that the elegant mansion-house, were left in good order. All the buildings belonging to the Hon. Mr. Hancock, particularly his elegant mansion-house, and woollen goods, except some that might be secreted, were carried off by the enemy. All the salt and molasses, which they could find, were destroyed. The enemy also destroyed great quantities of effects belonging to themselves, which they could not carry away, such as gun carriages, and other carriages of various kinds, house furniture, &c. together with a quantity of flour and hay. All their forts, batteries, redoubts, and breast works remain entire and complete; they left many of their heaviest cannon, mounted on carriages, and several of them charged; all of them were either spiked up or had a trunnion beat off. They also left several of their largest mortars. Quantities of cannon shot, shells, numbers of small arms, and other instruments of war, have been found in many parts of the town, thrown off the wharfs, concealed in vaults, or broken in pieces. In the fort on Bunker's Hill several hundred good blankets were found. It is said, about 15 or 20 of the King's horses have been also taken up in the town; and it is thought, about the same number of Tories remain behind, all the rest being gone with the fleet. The enemy, previous to their going off, scattered great numbers of crow's feet on Boston Neck, and in the streets, in order to retard our troops in case of a pursuit; and with such silence and precaution did they embark, that a great part of the inhabitants did not know it till after they were gone. The prisoners, who were long confined in jail, were cruelly carried off in irons. Tuesday evening the enemy set fire to the block-house and barracks at the Castle, and yesterday they were employed at the same place in blowing up and demolishing the fortifications. The enemy's fleet, consisting of about 100 sail, still lie between the Castle and Nantasket.