Boston...Government Troops Move To Confiscate Assault Weapons
BOSTON - National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed on April 19th by elements of a para-military extremist faction. Military and law enforcement sources estimate that 72 were killed and more than 200 injured before government forces were compelled to withdraw.
Speaking after the clash Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has links to the radical right-wing tax protest movement. Gage blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed against internal revenue offices. The governor, who described the group's organizers as "criminals," issued an executive order authorizing the summary arrest of any individual who has interfered with the government's efforts to secure law and order. The military raid on the extremist arsenal followed wide-spread refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault weapons.
Gage issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting in early this month between government and military leaders at which the governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms.
One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that "none of these people would have been killed had the extremists obeyed the law and turned over their weapons voluntarily."
Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops attempting to seize arms and ammunition in Lexington met with resistance from heavily-armed extremists who had been tipped off regarding the government's plans. During a tense standoff in Lexington's town park, National Guard Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse was broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the right-wing extremists. Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing exchange. Ironically, the local citizenry blamed government forces rather than the extremists for the civilian deaths. Before order could be restored, armed citizens from surrounding areas had descended upon the guard units.
Colonel Smith, finding his forces overmatched by the armed mob, ordered a retreat. Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and leading the attack against the government troops. Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as "ringleaders" of the extremist faction, remain at large.
April 20, 1775
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Our Past, (And) Our Future, in a Nutshell, if things do not change.
Provided we still have "Patriots."
Thanks for posting that, nunn. đź‘Ť
*Shared.
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Good post, nunn.
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One of the best posts in a long time.
Thanks, David.
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 An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject.” — John Adams
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I thought WTH, how did I not hear of this.....until I read the last line. Nice post David.
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Samuel Whittemore an armed patriot intercepted British when they were returning from Lexington and Concord. From behind stone wall he killed one soldier, drew his dueling pistols and killed a second and wounded a third. Drew his sword and attacked. He was shot in the face and bayonetted many times. Left for dead in a pool of blood and found by Colonial Forces. He was trying to load his assault rifle to resume the fight and taken to doctor who said there was no hope for him to survive. He survived another 18 years and died at age 96. Never count the old timers out. -------------------------------Ray
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4205raymond: 30314244150683/comments/
There was an elder gentleman I believe he was 88 and was bayonetted 18 times. They thought their was no hope for him. Some how he survived and lived to the ripe old age of 99 I think. Sorry I can't remember his name right now but it will come to me. Never count us old timers out. ------------------------------------Ray
Ray, Is this the gentleman you are thinking of?
Capt. Samuel Whittemore, a seventy-eight year old American farmer, became a legend on April 19, 1775 when he was shot in the face by British soldiers, bayoneted at least six times, and clubbed in the head with the butts of their muskets. Armed with a musket and horse pistol, Whittemore had crouched behind a wall near his home as the British retreated to Boston through Menotomy.[1]Â As a flank-guard approached, he shot two soldiers dead and possibly killed one more. Inevitably, the soldiers discovered the old farmer and inflicted their wrath upon him, leaving him for dead.
Certainly we all would have nodded our heads in sympathy and forgiven Whittemore had he simply succumbed to his terrible injuries. However, in an epic demonstration of New England stubbornness, Whittemore refused to die. Instead, a doctor patched him up and he lived another eighteen years—though perhaps not in much comfort as the British musket ball had torn away part of his face.[2] He died in 1793 at age ninety-six.
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Great post, thanks.
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I think I remember this from a Paul Harvey broadcast...
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Austin20 , my first post that I deleted and you copied was probably not that accurate. Memory not as good as it use to be. Second post is more accurate as is yours. ------------------Ray
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This history is going to repeat. Bet on it. Probably in less than a year.
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4205raymond: 30314244150683/comments/
Austin20 , my first post that I deleted and you copied was probably not that accurate. Memory not as good as it use to be. Second post is more accurate as is yours. ------------------Ray
All good my brother. Just tryin to help out. Captain Whittemore was one tough son of a gun
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It's not the size of the Dog in the Fight, it's the size of the Fight in the Dog.
(And) To Quote Josey Wales - "When things look bad, it's time to get Plumb Mad Dog Mean."
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Excellent post nunn, thanks for posting that up.
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Don't mean to stray off the path too much but can't help thinking about Capt. Whittemore without Master Sgt. Roy Benavidez coming to mind. ---------------------Ray
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