Justin Hitchcock's Remarks and Observations

The War was now begun in earnest and the country
alarmed and in motion and in less than a week the
British troops now in Boston were surrounded by perhaps
twelve or fifteen thousand of the Militia. This was a
trying time with us we were by no means prepared to
emparell engage in a war with so powerfull a Nation
as Great Britain and the most sanguine amongst us was
not free from apprehensions We were distitute of cannon
fire arms and amunation or had but a small supply
I went with Minut men from Deerfield as a fifer --
I also carried a gun when we marched into Cambridge
Common I beheld more men than I have ever seen
together before notstanding I had been joined to
companys for exercise at Springfield and Deerfield for
three or four years past yet I never ^saw a Regiment peradee
until I came to Cambridge After we had been there a
week or more it as said that a lot had been cast
to see who should return home and who should be
enlisted for eight months I was told that my lot
was to stay I then hired on Smith of Sudbury
to take my place for ten Dollar I then went
to Roxbury where I found my Brother Merick and
my Brother in Law Eligah Stiles Mr Stiles was going
home but Merick staid through ^the Campain
I went home through Brookfield to Springfield and at
Brookfield I heard of the Death of my Grandfather
he died at my fathers
I hav mentioned that I went to Cambridge with
the the Militia Company from Deerfield The Officer
was Jonas Lock Capt Thomas Bardwell 1 Lieu^t
Joseph Stebbins 2' Lieu^t their was no ensign
Allowed at that time