Posted on 01/18/2013 4:21:37 AM PST by abb
Orders from General Thomas Gage to Lieut. Colonel Smith, 10th Regiment ’Foot
General Thomas Gage April 18, 1775 Boston, Massachusetts
Lieut. Colonel Smith, 10th Regiment ’Foot,
Sir,
Having received intelligence, that a quantity of Ammunition, Provisions, Artillery, Tents and small Arms, have been collected at Concord, for the Avowed Purpose of raising and supporting a Rebellion against His Majesty, you will March with a Corps of Grenadiers and Light Infantry, put under your Command, with the utmost expedition and Secrecy to Concord, where you will seize and distroy all Artillery, Ammunition, Provisions, Tents, Small Arms, and all Military Stores whatever. But you will take care that the Soldiers do not plunder the Inhabitants, or hurt private property.
You have a Draught of Concord, on which is marked the Houses, Barns, &c, which contain the above military Stores. You will order a Trunion to be knocked off each Gun, but if its found impracticable on any, they must be spiked, and the Carriages destroyed. The Powder and flower must be shook out of the Barrels into the River, the Tents burnt, Pork or Beef destroyed in the best way you can devise. And the Men may put Balls of lead in their pockets, throwing them by degrees into Ponds, Ditches &c., but no Quantity together, so that they may be recovered afterwards. If you meet any Brass Artillery, you will order their muzzles to be beat in so as to render them useless.
You will observe by the Draught that it will be necessary to secure the two Bridges as soon as possible, you will therefore Order a party of the best Marchers, to go on with expedition for the purpose.
A small party of Horseback is ordered out to stop all advice of your March getting to Concord before you, and a small number of Artillery go out in Chaises to wait for you on the road, with Sledge Hammers, Spikes, &c.
You will open your business and return with the Troops, as soon as possible, with I must leave to your own Judgment and Discretion.
I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant Thos. Gage.
Me too - I would love to be wrong on this, but I fear that I am not.
E1 or E8 I would not fire on American citizens.
That was then this is now. Besides the police and various federal gestapos will be the sharp end here, and they have never to my knowledge refused an order to fire on american citizens about guns - I offer Waco and Ruby Ridge as examples. To the best of my knowledge there has never been a reported incident where local or federal jackboots ever refused an order to enforce a gun law.
Thank you for posting the actual text of the order to get the Colonists’ weaponry. it is the first time I have seen it, and am struck by its completeness as a military order.
The British could scarcely comprehend how their world and how history would change the very next day.
History turns on small events.
The men who fought the British and those who gave their lives the very next day are owed a tremendous debt by us.
That is why tyranny as to fought, at all levels, and at all costs.
“Why is it that dictators always impose healthcare reform, gun control and then citizen roundups?”
1. Health care to let you know they ‘care’ about your well being and make you understand that ‘we’re from the government and we’re here to help!’.
2. Gun control to make you feel ‘safe’.(and disarm you)
3. Citizen roundups to let you know WHO is ‘In charge’.
Can’t do the last without doing the first two.
This move to complete control of everything is not new any one remember Hitler, The Muslim in charge is Hitler reborn.
The liberals are master shepherds. Read any social psych textbook and it is all explained.
When discussing Obama, especially his penchant for power grabs that violate the Constitution and the rule of law, comparisons to Hitler are entirely appropriate. I just hope and pray we learn before paying the price that the German people paid for blindly following their beloved demagogue.
This is not the first time. Years ago I read that the Regulator War of 1770 was started by an attempt to ban firearms in the Carolinas. The citizens lost and several gunsmiths were hanged as a result.
During the British occupation of Boston General Gage ordered all citizens temporarily store their private firearms in the local hall. Then his soldiers seized them and refused to return them.
In ancient Greece a politician called a town meeting. He wanted everyone to store their arms in a local temple till the meeting was over.
After the meeting was over the citizens found the politician’s henchmen had seized the temple and the Pol declared himself the king of that city.
***Distinction noted. But our forefathers did see themselves as citizens, rather than subjects,***
I don’t believe Americans ever felt themselves to be “subjects” in the classical sense of the word.
In England today there is still a sense of “class structure” between Royalty, lords and commoners.
***Having received intelligence, that a quantity of Ammunition, Provisions, Artillery, Tents and small Arms, have been collected at Concord,****
Which is why Americans should NEVER fall for the request to store your private firearms in a government armory as some of the libs have been demanding for the last 50 years.
Just a funny note, I was working for DHS when they first issued that “Potential Terrorist” list. I walked it over to my sector chief and read it to him, after much laughter he said, “Those idiots are describing us and nearly all of our agents”.
“Orders Issued to Seize Citizen’s Guns (My title - flashback April 18, 1775)”
Seems like that raid resulted in some “Unintended Consequences”….
Could it happen again?
Thanks for posting this.
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