 The governor's council was initially opposed to ordering the troop withdrawal, and Hutchinson claimed that he did not have the authority to "order" the troops to move.Lieutenant Colonel William Dalrymple was the commander of the troops, and he did not offer to move them.The town meeting became more restive when it learned of this; the council changed its position and unanimously ("under duress", according to Hutchinson's report) agreed to request the troops' removal.