Boston Massacre by Yessenia Enciso-Zavala

Carefully read the following accounts of the Boston Massacre occurrences. Each account comes from various people with different beliefs as well as ethnicities.

http://alphahistory.com/americanrevolution/eyewitness-accounts-boston-massacre-1770/

“Between the hours of nine and ten o’clock, being in my master’s house, was alarmed with the cry of fire, I ran down as far as the town-house, and then heard that the soldiers and the inhabitants were fighting in the alley… I then left them and went to King street. I then saw a party of soldiers loading their muskets about the Custom-house door, after which they all shouldered. I heard some of the inhabitants cry out, “heave no snow balls”, others cried “they dare not fire”.

Captain Preston was then standing by the soldiers, when a snow ball struck a grenadier, who immediately fired, Captain Preston standing close by him. The Captain then spoke distinctly, “Fire, Fire!” I was then within four feet of Captain Preston, and know him well. The soldiers fired as fast as they could one after another. I saw the mulatto [Crispus Attucks] fall, and Samuel Gray went to look at him, one of the soldiers, at a distance of about four or five yards, pointed his piece directly for the said Gray’s head and fired. Mr. Gray, after struggling, turned himself right round upon his heel and fell dead.”

Charles Hobby, a Boston labourer

“Saw several persons, mostly young folks, gathered between the Town House and Coffee House, some of whom were talking to the sentinel at the Commissioners’ or Custom-house. After some time, the boys at a distance began to throw light snow-balls at him, which he seemed much enraged at and… appeared to have charged his gun, giving it a heavy stamp upon the door step, as if to force down the lead… and swore to the boys if they came near him he would blow their brains out.

About ten minutes after this, the deponent saw Captain Preston leading seven or eight men from towards the Town House, and placed them between the Custom-house door, and the sentinel box. About four or five minutes after they were posted, the snowballs now and them coming towards the soldiers, the Captain commanded them to fire. Upon this, one gun quickly went off; and afterwards he said “Fire by all means!” others succeeding, and the deponent being utterly unarmed, to avoid further danger, went up round the Town House till the fray was over.”

Daniel Usher, Boston citizen

While I was thus speaking one of the soldiers, having received a severe blow with a stick, stepped a little to one side and instantly fired… On this a general attack was made on the men by a great number of heavy clubs and snowballs being thrown at them, by which all our lives were in imminent danger… some persons at the same time from behind calling out “Darn your bloods, why don’t you fire”. Instantly three or four of the soldiers fired… On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word ‘fire’ and supposed it came from me. This might be the case as many of the mob called out fire, fire, but I assured the men that I gave no such order… that my words were “don’t fire, stop your firing”…”

Captain Thomas Preston, British soldier

I went down. Saw the soldiers planted by the Custom house two deep. The people were calling them lobsters, daring’ em to fire, saying damn you why don’t you fire. I saw Captain Preston out from behind the Soldiers. In the front at the right. He spoke to some people. The Captain stood between the soldiers and gutter, about two yards from the gutter. I saw two or three strike with sticks on the guns. I was going off to the west of the soldiers and heard the guns fire and saw the dead carried off.

Soon after, the guard drums beat to arms. The people, whilst striking on the guns cried fire, damn you, fire. I have heard no orders given to fire, only the people in general cried fire.”

Newton Prince, an African-American civilian

“Captain Preston was within two yards of me and before the men and nearest to the right and facing the Street. I was looking at him. Did not hear any order. He faced me. I think I should have heard him. I directly heard a voice say “Damn you, why do you fire? Don’t fire”. I thought it was the Captain’s then. I now believe it.”

Daniel Cornwall, Boston citizen

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