By Brian Hanley

BOSTON, MA – A few british soldiers were protecting the british sentinel. Some colonists started joining together one by one and throwing snowballs, sticks and stones at the British soldiers. March 5, 1777 is when this all happened. Someone in the commotion yelled or thought someone yelled “fire” and shot which lead to even more bullets fired.  3 died right away, the first, black sailor, Crispus Attucks, Rope Maker, Samuel Gray and a mariner named James Caldwell. 8 found wounded and 2 of them died later.

A meeting was called to put the british soldiers and Captain Preston on trial for murder. At the trial only 2 men would defend the British. They were John Adams and Josiah Quincy II. All of the british soldiers were realeased except two of them, they were found guilty of manslaughter. John Adams did a great job defending the soldiers.

“The part I took in defense of Captain Preston and the Soldiers, procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough. it was one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested actions of my whole life and one of the best peices of services i have ever done in my life…” -John Adams.

After the shootings the crowd dispersed. Many colonists were very angry at the soldiers.

“I want them dead!” said a colonist. Many colonists want revenge.

“They shouldn’t have been so loud and obnoxious, they were throwing things that could have severely hurt us, we fired in an act of defense,” said one British soldier.

By Jaden Milano

Boston Mass- John Adams, one of the most well respected Patriot leaders, put his legacy on the line this week.  Adams will represent the British soldiers who were involved in the the Boston Massacre and who are accused of killing five colonists.

Adams says his reasoning for this is that he believes everyone deserves a fair trial.

His very outspoken cousin Samuel Adams said, “I am behind John throughout the case. He is making a point to Britain letting them know we have more class and belive everyone is equal.”

April 19, 1775

The battle ended in minutes. The patriots lost that battle, but picked off the British all the way back to Boston. The British death toll was in the 73 with 174 wounded. The patriot death toll was 49 dead and 39 wounded. But the question on peoples mind is: Who fired the first shot? Who really started the war? Both sides had orders to fire only if the other side fired, but someone fired, and nobody knows who. A soldier went down on both sides. Then, a firefight between the two erupted.

 James Pattiner, a patriot captain in the local militia, explains what he saw.

“We waited for someone to take the shot,” Pattiner said. “Then, my friend Nick went down next to me. I tried shaking him, hoping he’ll get up but he didn’t. I picked up my gun, and shot those lobsters backs in the head. I had a thirst for vengeance.”

 Colonel Transbard, a British colonel in the 101th regiment, as also explained what he saw.

“We marched as close to those yanks as we could go,” said Transbard. ”We waited for those scallywags to fire, and they did. Private McGlang got shot right in the throat and died instantly. I raised my sword and ordered “fire!” Soon, each side was shooting the other.”

Nobody is yet sure who fired the first shot. Each side is still blaming eachother but more research will have to be done in order to confirm which side fired.

By Aparna Nair-Kanneganti

April 11^th, 1774 – British military in Boston have recently gained knowledge that arms are being gathered in Concord, a small town a few miles north of the city. Rebel Samuel Adams and fellow Patriot John Hancock are suspected to be the masterminds of the plot, and have been proclaimed public enemies to the city. Anonymous sources revealed that Adams has fled to the Massachusetts countryside while troops are on the lookout for anyone affiliated with the notorious Sons of Liberty.

Military authorities have been granted rights to a search warrant for every house in Concord to look for an alleged stash of ammunition and weaponry illegally stored in the village. The Governor of Boston has alerted the public to the imminence of a massive attack on the city using these stored arms, giving a sense of urgency to the search. Accusations of civilians assisting and harboring traitors to the Crown have triggered much uproar in the surrounding area. Several more soldiers have been commissioned to Massachusetts to help control the restive populace. Many fear that action will be taken in a more violent manner than necessary, and an all-out battle seems inevitable.

Reporters of this newspaper met with Samuel Adams before he left for Lexington. Adams would not reveal whether he was indeed responsible for this latest enacted scheme to amass weapons and form a colonial army.

Mixed perspectives and views on these recent events are not uncommon in the city of Boston, as a series of interviews with locals have proved. Milliner and long-time resident Sylvia Janesdaughter claims that “Samuel Adams and others like him are a threat to the public and have been poisoning the minds of many in Boston with malicious notions about the King”, while others, including the ardent patriot Samuel Johnson declare that, “What we need is change, and we aim to get it! The British have no right to keep persecuting us for what is our right! By all means, keep stockpiling weapons!” Engraver and silversmith Paul Revere, whose work was made famous with his depiction of the Boston Massacre, hinted at “more action in the coming days; just remember, one if by land, and two if by sea”. He gestured towards his long-time friend, pastor Sexton Newman, who was also present for the interview. Yet more Bostonians are undecided as to whether they support the Loyalist or the American cause.

By Luca Abatemarco

The Americans gained another monumental victory over  the British this week, for as of January 7th, 1778, France agreed to sign a Treaty of Amity with the colonies. This decision was made unanimously by the French Royal Council after the colonies’ victory at Saratoga; however, the leaders of the colonies had been contemplating foreign alliances. Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee represented the Americans and signed the treaty, and a French diplomat titled Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval signed for France. The colonies and France are now allies in politics and commerce, and there is speak of a Treaty of Alliance that will make France a military ally of the colonies as well as a ally of commerce. Our sources say that this treaty, if signed at all, will be signed in early February.

“More than anything we need the French to lend us soldiers, although I suppose that this treaty will help to keep our stomachs full,” says Samuel Meeker, a former soldier of the former American General Benedict Arnold.

The Quartering Act

By Cynthia Baseman

March 25th, 1765— The Quartering Act, which states that any colonist must submit to housing and feeding one or m0re British soldiers in his home at his own expense, enraged many colonists. The act was passed yesterday and will expire on March 24th, 1777. The British Parliament believes that the soldiers must be kept here so that the colonists will not ‘act up’, what we call fighting for our freedom and rights.

One rightfully angry colonist despises the act and stated, “We came here to be free. They let us come here to be free. So why can’t they stay out of our lives and just let us be free? And anyway, the French and Indian War is over, so why do we need soldiers stationed here now?”  In contrast, a British soldier, stationed on King Street, claims that “The soldiers, like me, are here only to protect the colonists. Why can’t they just settle down and get their heads straight? These colonists are turning into downright rebels, who cannot only hurt others, but also hurt themselves.”

“Oh I wish my father didn’t talk bad to the officer.  He was telling the truth; my brother stole my fathers Brown Bess (family gun) and joined the Continental Army.” Meeker said.

Mr. Heron, a surveyor, was threatened by the patriot solders in a similar manor to how Tim Meeker’s father was treated.

“I opened the door and a soldier pushed me backwards and stepped in with another soldier.  He told me to hand over my gun but I refused.  He punched me in the gut and after the second time he told me to hand my gun over I gave it to him.”

Besides the terror of having no guns, colonists were running out of food and supplies.  British and Patriot troops were buying up cattle, and occasionally butchering and stealing cattle without paying.

      With the winter’s  fast winds, cold ice and melting snow, diseases were always around, waiting to strike another soldier. Wounded soldiers from previous battles were the first ones that died from exposures to diseases. Typhoid, jaundice, dysentery and pneumonia spread quickly killing 2,500 of Washington’s men. Blankets were scarce. Shoes were torn because of long marches.

      Fredrich von Steuben, a Russian drill instructor, helped Washington’s men get whipped back into shape.  With his help, less soldiers started to die, guns were shot faster, and yells would never be the same.

       A victory has been won, a victory won not with weapons, but with will.

     Jess Curry,  Philadelphia Gazette

One quote from this pamphlet is, “…No man was a warmer wisher for a (peaceful settlement) than myself, before the fatal nineteenth of April, 1775, but the moment the event of that day was made known, I rejected the hardened, sullen-tempered (King of England) for ever.”  April 19, 1775 was the date of the battle of Lexington and Concord.  In this quote, Paine explains how after the battle of Lexington and Concord, he rejected the king.  King Geroge III is abusing his colonists and his power, according to Paine, and he should not be allowed to do that.

At the battle of Lexington and Concord, the British attacked the Americans.  Someone fired, and the British continued to shoot.  (It is not yet determined who fired the first shot.)  Eight Patriot soldiers were killed, and ten were wounded.  Only one British soldier was wounded, so they continued marching to Concord.

At Concord, the Patriots’ fighting became more intense.  They shot at the British, and the British retreated.  In the woods after retreating, the Patriots shot at the British.  The red coats of the British soldiers made them an easy target.  By the end of the battle of Lexington and Concord, the British lost 273 soldiers, while the Americans only lost 94.

The battle of Lexington and Concord upset Paine because he was hoping for a peaceful settlement.  Yet, England attacked America.

Philip Greisler, 40, responded to Paine’s “Common Sense.”

“Thomas Paine has some good points in his pamphlet,” Greisler said.   “It has made my family and I decide to become Patriots.”

A Loyalist colonist, Joseph Jones, 43, also responds to “Common Sense.”

“This pamphlet of Thomas Paine includes way too much propaganda,” Jones explains.  ”The information is not correct.”

Paine was born on January 29, 1737 in Theftford, England.  Throughout his life so far, he has failed at a few things, but kept trying.  He failed out of school at age twelve and failed at apprenticing for his father.  His wife died in 1761, but he remarried in 1771.  Paine and his wife separated in 1774, just two years ago.

Disagreements have already begun over “Common Sense,” and will most likely continue.

            Paul Revere, a messenger, was warning several towns he passed threw on his way to Concord yelling, ‘The British are coming!’ After his good deeds he is now held in Libby Prison.  Revere had said, “I do not wish to change what I have done, I will think of myself as a hero.”

            Revere was one of many people who are helping in the war.  Revere was sent to warn specifically Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them. After Revere was notified that the British were coming by sea he set off for this dangerous mission. As he warned the country-side he was accompanied by Dawes and Prescott who helped him on his journey.  After he completed his mission he started his way towards Concord where the supplies was “secretly” kept.  On his way over British Patrol had stopped them with curiosity.

            “We have a job and can’t take any chances,” said one of the officers. “After all what would they be doing out this late?”  The British had taken their horses and sent them to prison soon after the event. Later on hopefully there will be more information about this event.   

April 18^th- Paul Revere was arrested by British Patrol in Concord around 1:00 am last night.  He was arrested for riding at a strange hour along with two other men, William Dawes & Dr. Samuel Prescott. 

            Paul Revere, a messenger, was warning several towns he passed threw on his way to Concord yelling, ‘The British are coming!’ After his good deeds he is now held in Libby Prison.  Revere had said, “I do not wish to change what I have done, I will think of myself as a hero.”

            Revere was one of many people who are helping in the war.  Revere was sent to warn specifically Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them. After Revere was notified that the British were coming by sea he set off for this dangerous mission. As he warned the country-side he was accompanied by Dawes and Prescott who helped him on his journey.  After he completed his mission he started his way towards Concord where the supplies was “secretly” kept.  On his way over British Patrol had stopped them with curiosity.

            “We have a job and can’t take any chances,” said one of the officers. “After all what would they be doing out this late?”  The British had taken their horses and sent them to prison soon after the event. Later on hopefully there will be more information about this event.