Returned to Boston this day. On the street corner was being sold the latest Journal of the Times. A collection of outright lies and sexual scandals written by Samuel Adams and his henchmen. Every other page bespoke of soldiers raping the women of Boston. However, the rumors in the taverns were that most of the women in Boston were bored with their men and welcomed the soldiers as an opportunity to vary their sex partners. This infuriated the patriots even more. Many believed that 3 out of every 4 pregancies over the last year were fathered by soldiers. Even if the rebels were winning in the streets and in the courts, they were losing in the bedroom.

Sunday, September 3rd

This morning, church was disturbed by the changing of the guard immediately outside. As we departed the service, soliders pushed their way up and down the block in front of the church. For those that attempted to stand their ground, they received a fist in the ribs or a kick to the knees. These events had been going on for the last several months, but I see them as a response to the dirty tricks played on them by the rebels. Still, it does not make it proper.

Tuesday, September 5

This evening I sat with Commissioner William Browne sharing numerous pints at the British Coffee House near the Custom House.

In walked that madman Otis carrying his walking stick. He approached John Robinson and demanded that they step outside to allow their fists to settle their differences. As he stood, Robinson picked up his walking stick, then bowed to Otis and roughly shoved Otis out of the way and moved toward the door. Otis followed closely behind. A drunken crowd pressed in behind them and one poor fool stumbled into Otis who in turn lost his balance and blundered into Robinson. Otis's large ugly and pointed nose poked Robinson between his shoulder blades. Robinson let out an oath, turned sharply and reached out to give Otis a tweak on his snout.

Then all hell broke loose. Otis blocked Robinson's arm with his stick and Robinson countered with his stick and the crowd drew back as they thrust and parried with their walking sticks. I pushed my way through the mob and twisted the stick out of the hands of Otis, while someone did the same to Robinson. Then I jumped up on a bench to get clear of the fist fight.

One John Gridley came up behind Robinson and attempted to pull the back of his coat down over his arms to prevent Robinson from defending himself. I struck at Gridley several times with the walking stick landing a few good blows. Gridley went down and was immediately picked up and thrown out into the street along with Otis.

Wednesday, September 6

This morning the Boston Gazette announced that the brawl was an attempt to assassinate Otis and Otis being the cad that he is, played it for all it was worth. He said he would sue Robinson for the attack. Also the Gazette claimed it was poor William Browne, not I, that had attacked Gridley with the walking stick. By noon, there was a mob outside the Boston Coffee House, looking for Browne. Browne hid in the back room of the Coffee House most of the afternoon until the mob got up enough nerve to take him. I kept my distance. Although I like Browne, I would rather he take the blame for my actions. And it goes to show that a bunch of drunken craftsmen aren't worth a damn when to comes to being an eye witness. The mob carried him to Faneuil Hall for a hearing while he screamed either his innocence or an admission that he was to drunk to even remember the events of last night. Obviously, neither he nor anyone else remembered I had attacked Gridley. I followed along and packed into the Hall with two thousand other citizens.

When James Murray, a Justice that was a friend of Browne attempted to enter the Hall, several citizens pushed him back out and closed the door. This repeated several times with loud cheers each time a door was slammed in his face. Since there were not a quorum of Justices, Murray was eventually allowed to enter, but he had to face loud jeers and boos.

The Justices held Browne on the assault charge without any proof, but with the hostile mob packed into the Hall, there was no other choice.

When Murray announced that he did not approve of Gridley's beating, but he would post bond for Browne, he had to avoid a barrage of ripe fruits and vegetables. While pushing his way to the door, someone snatched off his wig while others tried tripping him and poking him with walking sticks. A group of supporters surrounded him and shielded him while moving him out the door and to his home. His wig followed behind him, raised up on a walking stick of a patriot. The wig was thrown in the gutter in front of his house and was the target of urine and spittle for the rest of the afternoon.

FOOTNOTES

Although it is well documented that the not only the young unmarried women of Boston, but also many married women engaged in sexual activities with the soldiers; this aspect of the Revolutionary War has not been extensively researched for obvious reasons [Dale Madison]. return

Since sword dueling was against the law, fists were the usual manner to settle disagreements. However, use of walking sticks, fireplace pokers and trim torn from buildings were also used as swords in the heat of the moment. [John Taylor] return

This is a startling admission. Up to this point in time, all historians have agreed that it was Browne that attacked Gridley [DM] return

Although the Murray story is well-known, Flashman is the only one that recorded the fate of Murray's wig. [DM] return