The Revolutionary War’s origins 250 years ago can be linked to a pivotal manuscript detailing the orders for the Concord Expedition on April 18, 1775. This significant document, penned by British Army officer Thomas Gage, ignited the battles at Lexington and Concord. It is preserved at the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library, a treasure trove for history enthusiasts.
This draft, typical of the era, contains Gage’s handwritten directives based on intelligence from his agents. The final version, dispatched to troops, was transcribed by his secretary, with an additional secretarial copy kept for records, both housed in the Clements’ collection.
As the British commander-in-chief in North America and Massachusetts Bay governor from 1774-1775, Maj. Gen. Gage directed Lt. Col. Francis Smith to move with urgency and discretion to Concord. His orders were to destroy all artillery, ammunition, and military supplies.
Smith’s forces crossed the Charles River, triggering the American rebels’ communication network. Alarm riders like Paul Revere swiftly alerted the countryside, and by April 19, British troops met armed resistance from the American Minutemen at Lexington, marking the war’s opening shots.
Cheney Schopieray, the library’s curator, noted the document’s alterations, revealing Gage’s evolving strategy. A notable omission in the draft is the later-added line instructing soldiers not to plunder or harm private property.
The Gage Papers collection, featuring over 23,000 historical items, includes letters, journals, and military orders. Thanks to a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, 50 volumes of these documents are now digitized and accessible online, with more to follow.
Schopieray remarked, “The Gage papers, crown jewels of the Clements Library, offer invaluable insights into colonial America and British colonial governance during the lead-up to the Revolutionary War.”
Acquired by William L. Clements in 1930, the collection arrived in secretarial trunks, each representing a year of Gage’s command. These trunks contained documents organized by geographical or military significance.
The Clements Library’s exhibition, “Bloody Work: Lexington and Concord 1775,” showcases select pieces like manuscript letters, documents, and artwork. Students from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance narrate the manuscripts to improve accessibility.
Included is a letter from Rachel Revere to Paul Revere, intercepted by British spies and now part of Gage’s collection. Schopieray emphasized the personal connection offered by handwritten documents, “bringing you as close as you can get to the physical person behind the writing.”
“Bloody Work” is free for the public and runs until Sept. 19.
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