A Narrative of the Excursion and Ravages of the King's Troops

This document was one of the first items printed in Worcester after Thomas’s arrival in April 1775. It gave a more official account of what had occurred on the day of the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

On the front page, you will see that this Narrative includes “Depositions Taken by Order of Congress,” followed by the explanation, “To Support the truth of it.”

This was the new Provincial Congress’s method of showing an official inquiry to the events that had taken place. There were many depositions taken, all under oath, even one from a soldier “of His Majesty’s own regiment of foot” who declares that “we drew up on the Concord side the bridge, the provincials came down upon us, upon which we engaged and gave the first fire.”¹

This particular statement from one of King George’s own troops, along with statements from others who had seen the events of the day, proved that the British had indeed fired first.

This Narrative was commissioned by the Provincial Congress on May 22, 1775, and Thomas had it ready for distribution in July. Copies were sent to King George, the provincial governors, and other influential personages who may be swayed by its “official” information.² This was the only official printing Thomas completed for the new Congress.