powder alarm major popular reaction removal gunpowder magazine british soldiers orders general royal governor september response action amid rumors blood shed alarm spread countryside connecticut sprang action fearing war hand thousands began streaming boston cambridge mob action forced loyalists government officials flee protection british_army proved false alarm caused political military leaders proceed carefully days ahead essentially provided dress rehearsal battles lexington concord seven half months later furthermore actions sides control weaponry gunpowder military supplies contentious british sought bring military stores directly control patriot colonists sought acquire use background thirteen british colonies response unpopular british actions negative british reaction destruction colonists grounded ship involved enforcing customs regulations elected form committees correspondence allowed communities formally communicate raise awareness incidents occurring coordinate actions instrumental managing colonial response enforcement tea act acts unpopular british colonial legislation colonists massachusetts taken action organize militarily actions british regulars statements supporting boston port closed earlier boston port act lives fortunes general military governor massachusetts charged enforcement highly unpopular passed response seeking prevent outbreak war peace american patriot whig majority loyalist minority believed best way accomplish secretly removing military stores new_england secrecy missions paramount feared plans result seizure stores patriot men got places colonies british army supplies places fortifications manned small garrisons merely locked magazines powder control provincial government property individual towns locked near boston powder house square controlled leader provincial militia governor obviously sided loyalists patriots notified governor letter dated august provincial king powder supply remaining towns removed theirs decided powder brought boston expedition august sent sheriff orders remove provincial powder turned key gave orders ready force troops action day unnoticed local population point day general intent accident theft messenger lost possession letter widely held story dropped news content spread rapidly considered warning remove provincial powder patriots seize early morning september force roughly british regulars command lieutenant colonel rowed secrecy boston landing point near modern day marched mile gunpowder magazine held largest supply gunpowder massachusetts gave king troops keys building sunrise removed gunpowder regulars returned boston way come small contingent marched cambridge removed field pieces took boston foot great bridge field pieces powder taken boston british stronghold known renamed response raid rumors flew day countryside british troop movements regulars marching provincial powder seized war hand people killed boston bombarded majesty warships alarm spread far connecticut region people took arms began streaming boston traveler reported space minutes men gathered equipped sent surrounding towns left boston 2nd thousand men bent violence gathered cambridge forced notable loyalists including flee boston protection military forced writing government actions eventually facts caught rumors militia units heading boston returned home 2nd boston newspapers published letter protested warned remove powder requested accounting contents complied content letter published 5th remained siege boston leaving british evacuated city march died halifax nova scotia october age news brought bombardment boston completely miserable days saw sympathy resolution continent war war war cry pronounced tone honor roman proved true heard thunder american congress british reaction surprised size scope colonial reaction delayed eventually cancelled second planned expedition worcester concentrated troops boston called reinforcements london writing think thousand men sufficient send million thought save blood treasure end request seen london absurd troops britain time eventually receive additional marines response requests later began planning executing fortified boston peninsula colonial reaction militia forces new_england cautious supplies intent gaining information plans troop movements paul played significant role distributing information geographical position boston social position middle class contact social classes political position known patriot organizer colonists organize september patriot leaders met worcester urged town meetings organize militias special companies constant readiness march instituted system express riders prove critical lexington concord october legislature massachusetts met defiance massachusetts government act declared created modeled body english civil war recommended quarter militia designated military stores away coast convenient day march attempts seize difficult largest located concord worcester portsmouth alarm early december british military command voted prohibit export arms powder north_america secure remaining stores december intelligence received indicated seizure stores fort william mary portsmouth new_hampshire imminent rode boston portsmouth day local patriots quickly raided fort 14th removed supplies intelligence incorrect british operation contemplated ordered british send ships carrying troops portsmouth arrived days fort supplies removed arrived 17th directed high tide local patriot pilot captain anger stores gunpowder typically referred loyalists king powder contrast patriots militia powder carried forts newport rhode_island providence rhode_island connecticut distributed militias towns away coast cannon supplies smuggled boston salem confrontation february hms lively brought force british regulars regiment colonel weapons salem massachusetts stopped small crowd raised path moved cannon safety sent help nearby towns eventually lowered regulars permitted search forge cannon returned ship mocked growing force marching lock step minor shots fired
Powder Alarm