oes not mention the fact that he was
himself a member of the Tea-Party. When he goes on to speak of still
more important events, he suppresses the fact that he was one of the
leaders, if not the chief leader, of the Boston artisans.

"In the fall of 1774, and winter of 1775, I was one of upwards of
thirty, chiefly mechanics, who formed ourselves into a committee for the
purpose of watching the movements of the British soldiers, and gaining
every intelligence of the movements of the Tories. We held our meetings
at the Green Dragon Tavern. We were so careful that our meetings should
be kept secret, that every time we met, every person swore upon the
Bible that they would not discover any of our transactions but to
Messrs. Hancock, Adams, Doctors Warren, Church, and one or two more....
In the winter, towards the spring, we frequently took turns, two and
two, to watch the soldiers, by patrolling the streets all night."

Such was the watch, then, kept upon the royalists, and such were the
preparations to receive the troops when they should march out. We know
now that Gage was informed of them, for among those whom Revere names as
confidants of the mechanics there was a traitor to the cause. Yet though
Gage knew of the organization of the Whigs, of its efficiency he had
apparently not the glimmer of an idea. It was with no expectation of
serious results that, when at last he learned that the resolution
declaring the colonies to be in rebellion had passed Parliament, he
slowly put himself in motion to seize the stores of the provincials.

The Americans were keenly aware of all his movements. There were two
common methods of leaving the town, one by the Neck, the other over
Charlestown ferry. But these routes lay through towns, either Roxbury
or Charlestown, and to march so openly meant to give the alarm. The
Americans were ready for Gage to take a third route: across the Charles
by means of boats, and then by unfrequented roads until striking the
highway at Cambridge Common. This way the Whigs suspected he might
choose, and this they found he did.

Gage's preparations were almost open. The boats of the men-of-war were
hauled up and repaired at the foot of the Common. On the 14th, in the
night, they were launched, and moored at the sterns of the men-of-war.
On the 15th was given out in general orders that "'The Grenadiers and
Light Infantry in order to learn Grenadrs. Exercise and new evolutions
are to be off all duties till