April 14, 1775

Gage Receives Dartmouth Letter Urging Action

In Boston, Lieutenant General Thomas Gage reads Lord Dartmouth's secret January 27 letter informing him that reinforcements are on their way, leaving the only question for Gage to be "in what manner the force under your command may be exerted to defend the constitution and to restore the vigour of government" in New England, including the arrest of "the principal actors and abettors" in Massachusetts' Provincial Congress. However, Lord Dartmouth adds, "after all I have said this is a matter which must be left to your own discretion to be executed or not."