Last evening, a group of men—some dressed as Mohawk Indians—boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and destroyed an entire shipment of tea in protest against British taxation.

Starting with Captain Hall’s ship, the protestors cracked open the wooden tea chests and dumped their contents into the sea. They continued to Captain Bruce’s and Captain Coffin’s vessels, emptying a total of 342 chests in under three hours. The harbor waters were soon covered in floating leaves of tea, stretching from the south part of town to Dorchester Neck.

Despite the large crowd, the protest remained disciplined. No other goods on the ships were touched. In fact, when a padlock was accidentally broken during the action, the protestors replaced it, showing great care for private property. A few individuals who tried to pocket tea were quickly stopped and removed by the crowd.

By morning, the town was calm, and many citizens appeared joyful—some pleased by the act of protest, others by the peacefulness of the night. Reports suggest even the ship owners were relieved to have the tea gone without damage to their vessels.

This bold act follows ongoing anger over the Tea Act and British attempts to tax the colonies without their consent. The people of Boston have made their message clear: No taxation without representation.

I have received your letter about the Loyalist fort on Long Island, known as Fort Franklin. It is a place where many of the King’s supporters (Loyalists) gather, and it poses a threat to our efforts. If we can surprise and capture it, we may deal a blow to their confidence and gather useful information.

This operation must be carried out carefully and secretly. I trust your judgment and courage, but we must avoid unnecessary risks. Only if you feel the mission can succeed should you proceed.

The Loyalists at this fort are dangerous not just because of their numbers, but because they help the British with supplies and information. If we can take away this stronghold, it would be a valuable win for our cause.

It’s foolish for a small island like Britain to rule over a vast continent like America. No place on Earth should be ruled by another just because that’s the way things have always been.

Britain claims to be our “parent country,” but parents should care for their children, not hurt them. The British government has caused nothing but trouble—taxes, war, and unfair treatment.

We have tried to make peace with them, but they don’t listen. They treat us like property, not like people with rights.

It’s time for us to break away and govern ourselves. We don’t need a king to tell us what to do. We can create a better government—one that listens to the people and protects everyone’s rights.

America has the chance to be a free and strong nation. We must act now.

. This source indicates that there was considerable tension during the American Revolution. A connection from today is that they tax a lot of stuff these days