In February of 1775, Gen. Thomas Gage, the British commander in Boston, was informed that cannons were being refitted for use by colonial militia in Salem. He made immediate plans to capture the weapons, ordering Col. Alexander Leslie with 240 troops to do just that.
Leslie headed to Marblehead by ship and planned to march from there to Salem. He chose a Sunday to embark, as he thought that all the people would be at church, thus giving him the advantage of surprise. He was unaware of the differences between Marblehead and Salem in this regard. Many Marbleheaders attended church, but not all.
Leslie landed at Homan’s Cove on Marblehead Neck. Marbleheaders observed him and suspected his plans. Under the leadership of Maj. John Pedrick, the alarm was quickly spread, and the Marblehead militia headed to Salem. Leslie and his men marched through Marblehead, the fife and drum corps playing “Yankee Doodle.” They got as far as the North Bridge in Salem. There they were halted, as the bridge had been drawn up, and a large group of militia and townspeople blocked their way.
It was there that the confrontation took place. The Colonial militia faced the British Redcoats. Capt. John Felt shouted at Leslie, “If you fire, you will all be dead men!” A few Redcoats accosted Colonial Joseph Whicher, who had scuttled the few boats the British might have used to cross the river. He defied them, bared his chest, and dared them to bayonet him. One Redcoat got close enough to prick him and draw blood. This is considered by some to be the first wound of the American Revolution.
Parson Thomas Barnard of Salem intervened and spoke of peace. Leslie restored order and saw the futility of the situation. He proposed to withdraw if the Colonial militia would allow him to search the north side of the river for weapons.
The delay had given the Colonials time to hide everything in safe locations, so they agreed. Leslie marched his soldiers “50 rods” past the bridge, which had been let down, and then turned and headed back the way he had come.
Leslie retreated and marched his troops back through Marblehead as they played “The World’s Turned Upside Down.” This was the same tune that would be played at Yorktown at the end of the Revolutionary War in 1781. Leslie and his men sailed back to Boston empty handed.
Pam Peterson chairs the Marblehead Historical Commission. She is the former Marblehead Museum executive director.
