[Thomas Gage] autograph draft to [Francis Smith, April 18, 1775; Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay].

From the Thomas Gage Papers, American Series.

Four Brass Cannon and two Mortars or Coherns ^{^with a number of smaller arms} in the Cellar / or out Houses of M^r. Barrett a little on the other side the Bridge / where is also lodged a Quantity of Powder & Lead.

Ten Iron Cannon before the Town=House and two within it / which Town=House is in the Center of the Town, The Ammunition / for said Guns within the House

Three Guns of 24 Pounders, lodged, in the Prison yard with / a Quantity of Cartridges and Provision

A Quantity of Provision and Ammunition in other Places, the / Principal Deposits are the Houses of Mess^rs. Hubbard, ^{^near the Meeting} Butler / Jones the Sailor, ^{^near Hubbards} two men of ^{the name of} Bond, and particularly at M^r: / Whitneys who lives nea on the Right Hand at near the Entrance of the / Town, ^{at a} the House pla plaistered white a small yard in Front / and a railed Fence a large Quantity of small Arms Powder / and Ball is reported to be stored deposited in his stores adjoining / the House

Sir, ^{^A Quantity of Ammunition and Provision together a number of Cannon and small Arms having been collected at Concord for the avowed purpose of supporting a Rebellion against His Majtys Government} you will march with the Corps of Grenadiers and / Light Infantry put under your Command with the utmost Expedition / and secrecy to Concord, and where you will seize and destroy / all the Artillery and Ammunition ^{^Provisions Tents & all other Military stores} you can find, you will knock / off one Trunion at least of each of the Iron Guns, ^{and destroy the Carriages} and beat in the / Muzzles of the Brass ones so as to render them useless. The / Powder ^{^& Flour} may be shaken out of the Barrells into the water, ^{^the Tents burnt} and the / Men may put the Balls & Lead into their Knapsacks Pockets throwing them / away by Degrees into the Fields Ditches Ponds, &c^a. when / you shall I give you ^{^have a Plan with on which is marked} a Return of the Places where the artillery / & Ammunition ^&ca. is reported to be lodged, and after destroying / the same you will return, and if your men appear much fatigued / you may halt them at Lexington or Cambridge and let them rest in

Cannon hid in a wood a mile & half from the center of the village / between [the] River and a wat Malden Pond. The wood Rich a good / deal of underwood, the Ground a little wet, but not a Marsh. Three / Guns still mounted, the rest dismounted and carefully hid and even / buried. In the same Place some Boxes of Arms hid like the Cannon

The Medecine Chests & Powder Barrells, ^{Tents &ca.} distributed in the / chief Houses, particularly M^r. Barretts, Cap^t. Wheelers, M^r. Hubbards / stores and the two Bonds.

The three Guns in the Prison Court remain there besides / many different Articles