Ellery, William, Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island

Autograph manuscript signed, 1 1/2 pages (8 1/4 x 6 5/8 in.; 208 x 168 mm) on sheet and half of paper, [Newport, late April 1775], being his transcription of Theodore Parsons's eyewitness account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Mrs. Philip D. Sang (Sotheby's, 27 March 1985, lot 254)

Lexington and Concord, where "the Sword of Civil War was first drawn by ye King's Troops." The genesis of the manuscript is explained in an endorsement signed by Ellery on the verso of the full sheet of the narrative: "The above Account was given to me by Theodore Parsons a Graduate at Harvard College, who came from Cambridge the 20th Day of April 1775. (The Day after the Sword of Civil War was first drawn by ye King's Troops) and bro't my Daughter Dana from thence to Newport."

"By a Gentleman from Cambridge We are informed that between 11 & 12 o'Clock on Tuesday Evening last, a detachment consisting of the Grenadiers and Light Infantry, amounting to a thousand or fifteen hundred, as is supposed, embarked from Boston, in the boats belonging to the Ships of War, and passing Charles River from the Western Part of Boston landed in Cambridge and immediately proceeded towards Concord thro ... Lexington; at which last place they arrived before sunrise, and found about an hundred provincials under arms. The commanding officer of the advanced guard, addressing them in the most abusive terms damn'd them as Rebels, demanded of them what business thay had there and upon being answered that they were exercising, commanded them to disperse, threatening to fire upon them if they refused. The Captn of the Provincials not immediately complying, the advanced Guard made to & fired upon them, killed three upon the Spot, and wounded Six who died the same Day of their Wounds: Upon which they dispersed. The regular Troops marched on to Concord where they destroyed some Barrells of Flour, ... demolished one or two Gun-Carriages, and most hurriedly cut down the Liberty-Pole erected there. By this time a Number of Provisionals had collected, upon which the Detachment began to retreat. Exasperated to the highest Degree by the dastardly merciless Massacre of their Brethern at Lexington they pursued and fired upon the Regulars in their Retreat. Earl Poirey at the Head of a reinforcement of a thousand Men, with their Field-Pieces met the first Detachment at Lexington and supported their Retreat. The provincials still collecting took the field, and from thence, and the Sides of the Hills, galled the Regulars severely on their Retreat, and did not quit the Pursuit 'till they reached Charlestown, where the Regulars encamped upon what is called Bunker's Hill. In the Afternoon of the same Day, by Order of General Gage, a Proclamation was read to the Inhabitants of Charlestown, purporting that he would lay that Town in ashes if they obstructed the King's Troops in the Passage. The next Day the Troops took boat and landed in Boston. The Numbers killed and wounded on both Sides was not ascertained when the Person, who gave us this Account left Cambridge. A Young Gentleman, who came out with the second Detachment, and who was taken Prisoner, said that the Regulars lost about two hundred, and the Provincials about forty Men. A Number of Provincials surrounded a File of Thirteen Men, who guarded two Waggons, & took them Prisoners. On Thursday Evening near five thousand Provincials were assembled at Cambridge, a large Party at Roxbury, and another large Party at Mystick."