Last week, Neil Sorenson of the loyalist reenactment organization King’s Rangers contacted the Nerds to discuss the role of “Tory Pilots” on April 19, 1775. Specifically, Neil wanted to know what equipment loyalist guides carried as they marched with Smith Column to Concord or Percy’s relief force dispatched to Lexington. He also wanted to know if the guides were armed with firelocks or other weapons during the mission.
The Nerds have written several blog posts and published two research articles on the role of loyalist guides during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The most commonly accessed research article, published by the Journal of the American Revolution, can be viewed here.
When Lt. Colonel Smith and his troops marched to Concord, the expedition had approximately six guides, including Daniel Bliss, Daniel Leonard, and William Warden. The guides were interspersed amongst the column and were responsible for guiding the troops to Concord and identifying any persons of interest they encountered en route to their destination. In addition to leading the column to Concord, the guides were responsible for assisting search parties in locating military stores. “The troops renewed their march to Concord, where, when they arrived, they divided into parties and went directly to several places where the province stores were deposited. Each party was supposed to have a Tory pilot.”
Colonel Percy’s relief column is believed to have eight loyalist guides accompanying it as it marched from Boston to Lexington. These guides included George Leonard, Abijah Willard, and John Emerson. Of the eight, at least half were mounted. Emerson was tasked with delivering “despatches from the British headquarters in Boston to Earl Percy, then covering the retreat of the troops from Concord.” Willard, a veteran of the Siege of Louisbourg and French and Indian War, was positioned before the column to identify any “ambush laid for the troops.”
Not all of the guides returned from their mission. Two, Samuel Murray and John Bowen, were captured by provincial forces.
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| Photo Credit: Jonathan R. Beckerman |
So, with that background, let’s dive into Niel’s questions. First, were the guides armed? The answer is yes, but to what extent do we know? We have not encountered any hard evidence besides a newspaper account from May 3, 1775, suggesting that at least one of the guides was armed with a firelock. According to the Massachusetts Spy, “A young man, unarmed, who was taken prisoner by the enemy, and made to assist in carrying off their wounded, says, that he saw a barber who lives in Boston, thought to be one Warden, with the troops . . . he likewise saw the said barber fire twice upon our people.”
A pair of period accounts also implies some guides may have been armed.
When loyalist guide Walter Barrell volunteered to assist Percy’s relief column, he noted, “when the Lexington affair of the Rebells firing on His Majesty’s troops occurred, he voluntarily associated with a number of friends to Government who offered their services to General Gage in any capacity to oppose the rebels.” The Nerds suspect Barrell’s use of the term “in any capacity” included the proposition of offering armed resistance against the Massachusetts minute and militia companies that engaged the retiring column that day.
Similarly, a Massachusetts Provincial Congress resolution implies that the guides actively participated in the fight against minute and militia companies along the Bay Road. Specifically, on June 16, 1775, the Congress proposed to pardon all enemies who surrendered, except General Gage, Admiral Graves, “and all the natives of America, not belonging to the navy or army, who went out with the regular troops on the nineteenth of April last, and were countenancing, aiding, and assisting them in the robberies and murders then committed.” That phrase implies that many guides were armed and firing at their opponents during the retreat back toward Boston.
Unfortunately, without more evidence, the Nerds can only speculate that some, but likely not all, of the “Tory Pilots” were armed that day.
When loyalist guide Walter Barrell volunteered to assist Percy’s relief column, he noted, “when the Lexington affair of the Rebells firing on His Majesty’s troops occurred, he voluntarily associated with a number of friends to Government who offered their services to General Gage in any capacity to oppose the rebels.” The Nerds suspect Barrell’s use of the term “in any capacity” included the proposition of offering armed resistance against the Massachusetts minute and militia companies that engaged the retiring column that day.
Similarly, a Massachusetts Provincial Congress resolution implies that the guides actively participated in the fight against minute and militia companies along the Bay Road. Specifically, on June 16, 1775, the Congress proposed to pardon all enemies who surrendered, except General Gage, Admiral Graves, “and all the natives of America, not belonging to the navy or army, who went out with the regular troops on the nineteenth of April last, and were countenancing, aiding, and assisting them in the robberies and murders then committed.” That phrase implies that many guides were armed and firing at their opponents during the retreat back toward Boston.
Unfortunately, without more evidence, the Nerds can only speculate that some, but likely not all, of the “Tory Pilots” were armed that day.
If they were armed, what equipment were they carrying?
In addition to personally owned muskets and fowlers, the Nerds theorize that the guides who were armed likely only carried shot pouches and powder horns as there is no evidence that these individuals were supplied with King’s arms, cartridge boxes, bayonets, and belting when they departed Boston for the Middlesex County countryside.
We suspect mounted guides, if armed, were only equipped with a sidearm in the form of a sword or cutlass. We highly doubt they carried any other weapon as their role, particularly in the afternoon of April 19th, was highly mobile - scouting ahead of the retreating column and maintaining open lines of communication with Boston. It seems improbable that these guides had the time, let alone the inclination, to halt, dismount, fire a musket, reload, remount their horse and continue with their assigned tasks.
What about packs and blankets? The Nerds suspect that unlike their minute and militia counterparts, the guides fielded without packs or blankets.
We suspect mounted guides, if armed, were only equipped with a sidearm in the form of a sword or cutlass. We highly doubt they carried any other weapon as their role, particularly in the afternoon of April 19th, was highly mobile - scouting ahead of the retreating column and maintaining open lines of communication with Boston. It seems improbable that these guides had the time, let alone the inclination, to halt, dismount, fire a musket, reload, remount their horse and continue with their assigned tasks.
What about packs and blankets? The Nerds suspect that unlike their minute and militia counterparts, the guides fielded without packs or blankets.
Why? It comes down to an operational mindset.
When Massachusetts provincial forces mobilized on April 18, 1775, they were responding to what they believed were acts of war and marched for what they believed would be an extended campaign. As a result, Massachusetts men fielded with full campaign gear, including packs and blankets.
By comparison, Gage’s forces saw themselves, at least on paper, as a rapid strike force whose mission was to march to Concord, destroy identified rebel supplies, and quickly return to Boston. Percy’s relief force had similar operational parameters.
As a result, British soldiers who saw action on April 19, 1775, were not burdened by packs, blankets, and other equipment that typically would have been carried or worn on a long-term campaign.
The same operational principles apply to the guides. It makes no sense that Smith and Percy’s guides were heavily equipped for a short-term military operation, especially considering their assigned duties on April 19th. Thus, if the loyalist guides carried any provisions, they likely utilized market wallets or similar bags.
Of course, issuing provisions and supplies to the Loyalist guides on April 18, 1775, is a separate topic that will warrant a future analysis. In short, we have uncovered no evidence that British military authorities issued rations, ammunition, or other supplies to Loyalist guides on April 18-19, 1775.
When Massachusetts provincial forces mobilized on April 18, 1775, they were responding to what they believed were acts of war and marched for what they believed would be an extended campaign. As a result, Massachusetts men fielded with full campaign gear, including packs and blankets.
By comparison, Gage’s forces saw themselves, at least on paper, as a rapid strike force whose mission was to march to Concord, destroy identified rebel supplies, and quickly return to Boston. Percy’s relief force had similar operational parameters.
As a result, British soldiers who saw action on April 19, 1775, were not burdened by packs, blankets, and other equipment that typically would have been carried or worn on a long-term campaign.
The same operational principles apply to the guides. It makes no sense that Smith and Percy’s guides were heavily equipped for a short-term military operation, especially considering their assigned duties on April 19th. Thus, if the loyalist guides carried any provisions, they likely utilized market wallets or similar bags.
Of course, issuing provisions and supplies to the Loyalist guides on April 18, 1775, is a separate topic that will warrant a future analysis. In short, we have uncovered no evidence that British military authorities issued rations, ammunition, or other supplies to Loyalist guides on April 18-19, 1775.
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