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July 1775 Report of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
July 1775 Report of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms
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July 1775 Report of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms

This issue of The Virginia Gazette provides General Thomas Gage's account of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the full text of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 6, 1775, and signed in type by Convention President John Hancock.

This issue also includes a satirical poem entitled "Tom Gage's Proclamation, Or Blustering Denunciation." It comments on recent events in Massachusetts from Gage's perspective.

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR.] The Virginia Gazette, July 20, 1775 (no. 480), Williamsburg, Virginia: John Pinkney. 4 pp., 10.5" x 16.75". Disbound; some holes on page fold, not affecting text; general toning; very good

Excerpts
["Tom Gage's Proclamation, Or Blustering Denunciation":]
"Whereas the rebels hereabout
Are stubborn still, and still hold out;
Refusing yet to drink their tea,
In spite of parliament and me;"

"Pretending they design'd a trick,
Tho' order'd not to hurt a chick;
But peaceably, without alarm,
The men of Concord to disarm;
Or, if resisting, to annoy,
And ev'ry magazine destroy:"

"But on surrendering his toledo,
Go to and fro unhurt as we do:
But then I must, out of this plan, lock
Both Samuel Adams, and John Hancock;
For those vile traitors (like debentures)
Must be tuck'd up at all adventures;
As any proffer of a pardon,
Would only tend those rogues to harden;"

"Meanwhile let all, and every one
Who loves his life, forsake his gun;
And all the council, by mandamus,
Who have recked so infamous,
Return unto their habitation,
Without or let or molestation,
Thus, graciously, the war I wage,
As witnesseth my hand, TOM GAGE." (p1/c3)

[General Thomas Gage's "false and audacious account of the late battle near Boston," June 26, 1775:]
"This town was alarmed on the 17th instant, at break of day, by a firing from the Lively ship of war, and a report immediately spread that the rebels had broke ground, and were raising a battery on the heights of the peninsula of Charlestown, against the town of Boston.
"They were plainly seen, and in a few hours a battery of six guns played upon their works. Preparations were instantly made for landing a body of men, and some companies of grenadiers and light infantry, with some battallions and field artillery, amounting in the whole to 2000 men, under the command of major general Howe, and brigadier general Pigot, were embarked, with great expedition, and landed on the peninsula, without opposition, under cover of some ships of war, and armed vessels.
"The troop formed as soon as landed. The rebels upon the heights were perceived to be in great force, and strongly posted. A redoubt thrown up on the 16th at night, with other works, full of men, defended their cannon, and a large body posted in the houses of Charlestown, covered their right, and their left was covered by a breast-work, part of it cannon proof, which reached from the left of the redoubt to the Mystick river.
"Besides the appearance of the rebels strength, large columns were seen pouring in to their assistance; but the king's troops advanced. The attack began by a cannonade, and notwithstanding various impediments of fences, walls, &c. and the heavy fire they were exposed to from the vast numbers of rebels, and their left galled from the houses of Charlestown, the troops made their way to the redoubt, mounted the works, and carried it.
"The rebels were then forced from other strong holds, and pursued until they were entirely driven off the peninsula, leaving 5 pieces of cannon behind them. Charlestown was set on fire during the engagement, and most part of it consumed. The loss they sustained must have been considerable, from the vast numbers they were seen to carry off during the action, exclusive of what they suffered from the shipping. About 100 were buried the day after, and 30 found on the field, some of which are since dead. About 190 of the king's troops were killed, and a great many wounded.
"This action has shewn the bravery of the king's troops, who, under every disadvantage, gained a compleat victory over three times their number, strongly posted, and covered by breast-works. But they fought for their king, their laws, and constitution." (p3/c3)

["A Declaration by the Representatives of the united colonies of North America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their Taking Up Arms":]
"The legislature of Great Britain, however, stimulated by an inordinate passion for power, not only unjustifiable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very constitution of that kingdom, and desperate of success in any mode of contest where regard should be had to the truth, law, or right, have at length, deserting those, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enslaving these colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last appeal from reason to arms." (p2/c3)

"Our cause is just; our union is perfect; our internal resources are great; and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the divine favour towards us, that his providence would not permit us to be called into this severe controversy until we were grown up to our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operations, and possessed of the means of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being, with one mind, resolved to die freemen rather than live slaves." (p3/c2)

Historical Background
[Battle of Bunker Hill:]
On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the Patriot forces besieging Boston learned that the British planned to occupy the hills around the city, giving them control of Boston Harbor. During the night of June 16, Colonel William Prescott and 1,200 American troops occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. They constructed a redoubt on Breed's Hill and smaller fortifications across the Charlestown Peninsula north of Boston.

On June 17, British forces in Boston learned of the American movement and mounted a series of attacks on the American forces on Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. The Americans repulsed two assaults and inflicted serious casualties on the British. The third and final attack was successful in driving the American forces from the Charlestown Peninsula, but with heavy casualties that made them more cautious. The American militia demonstrated that they could engage regular army troops, and their performance boosted American morale and strengthened their resolve for independence.

[Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms:]
The Second Continental Congress adopted the resolution of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms on July 6, 1775, to explain why the thirteen American colonies had finally decided to take up arms. After John Rutledge wrote an initial draft for a committee of five, Congress did not accept it and added Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson to the committee. Jefferson wrote a new draft, which Dickinson revised into the declaration adopted by Congress. The Declaration lists several objectionable policies that the British Parliament pursued after the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), and the repeated petitions by the colonies over ten years that were ignored or rejected. The colonists did not seek independence but merely the restoration of their freedoms that had been usurped by Parliament.

Additional Content
This issue also includes a prayer submitted by "a friend to liberty and the constitution," to be used by the People of America "upon every election of a committee" (p1/c1-2); slaveowner Andrew Estave's public defense of his severe treatment of a "negro wench, about fifteen years of age" (p3/c3); along with a variety of notices and advertisements, including several offering rewards for the return of runaway slaves, escaped prisoners, or runaway English, Irish, or Scottish servants.

The Virginia Gazette (1766-1776) was a weekly newspaper established in Williamsburg by William Rind with the motto, "Open to All Parties, But influenced by None." After Rind's death, his widow Clementina Rind continued the newspaper in 1773 and 1774 before selling it to John Pinkney, who continued to publish it until February 1776. The first Virginia Gazette was established in Williamsburg by William Parks with the motto, "Containing the freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestick." Parks continued to publish the newspaper until 1750, when he was followed by William Hunter (1751-1761), Joseph Royle (1761-1765), Alexander Purdie and John Dixon (1766-1775), Dixon and William Hunter (1775-1778), and Dixon and Thomas Nicolson (1779-1780). Alexander Purdie also published a third newspaper entitled The Virginia Gazette from 1775 to 1779, and others continued it until 1780. Therefore, in 1775 and 1776, Williamsburg had three competing newspapers each entitled The Virginia Gazette. The surviving two both relocated to Richmond in 1780 when the state capital moved to that city.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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