Abigail Adams and Her Times

s set out on his return h

elphia. It is not very likely that I shall ever see this part of the world again, but I shall ever retain a most grateful, plea

the Boston Gazette, important letters answering those of "Massachusettensis" in Draper's paper, which "were conducted with a subtlety of art and address wonderfully calculated to keep up the spirits of their party, to depress ours, to spread intimidation, and to make proselytes among those whose principles and judgment give w

reen over which "the smoke of the battle still seems to hang": might have mentioned at least that toy pistol of Major Pitcairn's-a pretty thing, gold and mother-of-pearl, given him by admiring friends-which we are told fired the actual first shot of the Revolution, provokin

rode from thence to Lexington, and along the scene of action for many miles, and inquired of the inhabitants the circumstances. These were not calculated to diminish my ardor in the cause; they, on the contrary, convinced me that the die was cast, the Rubicon passed, and, as Lord Mansfield expressed it in Parliament, if we did not defend ourselves, they would kill

ny and grave dangers. Parliament had, in February, 1775, declared the Colony of Massachusetts to be in a state of

eing Sunday. The Dr.'s description of the melancholy of the town is enough to melt a stone. The trials of that unhappy and devoted people are lik

n this, that the present dreadful calamity of that beloved town is intended to bind the colonies together in more indissoluble bonds, and to animate their exertions at this great crisis in the af

often concerned for you and our dear babes, surrounded, as you are, by people who are too timorous and too much susceptible of alarms. Many fears and jealousies and imaginary dangers will be suggested to you

re-or at any moment might be-full of prowling savages, from whom no mercy could be expected; yet John Adams would choose to run this r

tachment of men like that actually sent forth on the 19th of April to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams, on their way to attend the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. My father was separated from his family on his way to atten

and happy," laments over the sufferin

ay,

effects; the next day, merchandise is not effects. One day, their household furniture is to come out; the next, only wearing apparel; the next, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he refuseth to hearken to them, and will not let the people go. May their deliverance be wrought out for them, as it wa

s, Po

May,

y flying. The Dr. is in great distress, as you may well imagine, for my aunt had her bed thrown into a cart, into which she got herself, and ordered the boy to drive her to Bridgewater, which he did. The report was to them that three hundred British had landed, and were upon their march up into town. The alarm flew like lightning, and men from all parts came flocking down, till two thousand were collected. But it seems their expedition was to Grape Island for Levett's hay. There it was impossible to reach them for want of boats; but the sight of so many people, and the firing at them, prevented their getting more than three tons of hay, though they had carted much more down to the water. At last a lighte

seless chi

s are op

ur portions

hem with

the security of our posterity. I wish you were nearer to us; we know not what a day will bring forth, nor what distress one hour may throw us in

h, 15 Ju

e syllable from you for more than five weeks, and the new distress arising from the arrival of recruits, agitated me more than I ha

ter I write will inform you that I am driven away from our yet quiet cottage. Necessity will oblige Gage to take some desperate steps. We are told for truth that he is now eight thousand strong. We live in continual expectations of alarms. Courage I know we have in abundance; co

urchase me a bundle of pins and put them in your trunk for me. The cry for pins is so great that what I used to buy for seven shillings and sixpence are now twenty shillings, and not to

the tender

r Po

th, John A

have a great effect in cementing and securing the union of these colonies. The continent is really in earnest, in defending the country. They have voted ten companies of riflemen to be sent from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, to join the army before Boston. These are an e

der convoy. The fleetest sailors must wait for the dullest and slowest. Like a coach and six, the

le he wrote, the cannon were roaring o

ragged re

old Cont

ding

enadiers we

ail fell t

on-s

anding there, mother and son saw with terror the smoke of burning Charlestown, listened with beating hearts to the beating drums and roaring

ed Philadelphia on June 22d:

comforted in death. I rejoice that my countrymen behaved so bravely, though not so skilfully

e every

ossed one from Abiga

d they with not half ammunition enough; the reinforcement not able to get to them seasonably. The tide was up, and high, so that their floating batteries came upon each side of the causeway, and their row-galleys kept a continual fire. Added to this, the fire from Copp's Hill, and from the ships; the town in flames, al

prayer unto God, and set the people with their swords, their spears, and their bows, we will say unto them, 'Be ye not afraid of them;

every line from that far country is precious. . . . O North, may th

wn on July 2d, and on the 3d, standing under the tree which stil

5th, she

ers were brought over to the Long Wharf, and there lay all night, without any care of their wounds, or any resting-place but the pavements, until the next day, when they exchanged it for the jail, since which we hear they are civilly treated. Their living cannot be good, as they can have no fresh provisions; their beef, we hear, is all gone, and their wounded men die very fast, so that they have a report that the bullets were poisoned. Fish they cannot have, they have rendered it so difficult to procure; and the admiral is such a villain as to oblige every fishing scho

r sons. I have bled with them and for them. Not all the havoc and devastation they have made has wounded me like the death of Warren. We want him in the Senate; we wan

to me for Mr. Bass to get him a hundred of needles, number six, to carry on his stocking weaving. We shall very soon have no coffee, nor sugar, nor pepper, here; but whortleberri

rti

triot. The story is told that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, sitting at his desk in the scho

l's done!" he said.

, Abigail w

e's abilities, but you know the continuation of the popular breath depends much upon favorable events. I had the pleasure o

ht the half was not told me. Dignity with ease and complacency, the gentleman and the soldier, look agreeably b

stic fabric;

h, and built b

e deity that

ile unworthy

arance brought to my mind his namesake, Charles the Twelfth, of Sw

distress increased upon them fast. Their beef is all spent; their malt and cider all gone. All the fresh provisions they can procure they are obliged to give to the sick and wounded. Thirteen of our men who were in jail, and were wounded at the battle of Charlesto

or himself. You can hardly imagine how much we want many common small articles which are not manufactured amongst ourselves; but we will have them in time; not one pin to be purchased for love or money. I wish you would convey me a thousand by any friend traveling this way. It is very provoking to have such a plenty so n

r two which was not ripe; and having whaleboats, they undertook to go to the Lighthouse and set fire to it, which they effected in open day, and in fair sight of several men-of-war. Upon their return, came down upon them eight barges, one cutter, and one schooner, all in battle-array, and poured whole broadsides upon them; but our men all reached the shore, and not one life lost, two only slightly wounded in their legs. They marched up a

vessel is now obliged to enter and clear out, as though she was going a foreign voyage. No inhabitant is suffered to partake, but obliged to wait till the army is supplied, and then, if one [fish] remains, they are allowed to purchase it. An order has been given out in town that no person shall be seen to wipe his face

untry, and "calm, happy Braintree" was calm no longer. One after another of the family sickened; one of the servants first, Isaac, ("there was no resting-place in the house,

a hospital in every part; and what with my own weakness and distress of mind for my family, I have been unhappy enough. And such is the distress of the neighborhood that I can scarcely find a well person to assist in look

all the flesh he had, save what remains for to keep his bones together." In October, Abigail's mother, after visiting a soldier home from the army on sick leave, was stricken by

ep distress. The loving husband and father would fain take horse and ride post haste to Braintree; the steadf

so long, with their own consent. We will bring master Johnny with us; you and he shall have the small-pox here, and we will be as happy as Mr. Hancock and his lady. Thank Abby

rely, he tried to am

, 'Dat is enough! Dat is enough!' And turning to me says he, 'It puts me in mind of a fellow who once said, "The Catholics have on their side the Pope, and the King of France, and the King of Spa