Boston Massacre from a Whig's Perspective

The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. This is a poem written from the eyes of what would become known as an American soldier in the American Revolution, then called a "Whig." I wrote this for a school assignment due March 29, 2010.

'Twas early on in the night

A little boy came to tease and fight.

A centinel panicked and struck the boy,

Who cried and cried and called his friends.

They jeered and taunted,

Screamed aloud!

The panicked soldier yelled for help.

Eight other soldiers answered his call.

When the townsmen made a crowd,

The people of the city yelled, "Fire! Fire!"

To lure more men from their place abed.

The more men added,

The angrier the soldiers grew.

They swore and spit and cussed and jabbed

Their bayonets at our ribs.

And, finally, a panicked soldier said,

"I'll fire if you say 'Fire!' again!"

The crowd kept jeering, louder still.

The soldier fired and said, "Fire lads!"

The others, who wanted to fire bad,

Fired quickly, "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Reloaded guns, and fired again.

After the brutal massacre,

Captain Preston said, "I tried to hold my men,

But they fired once again!"

We hated the British before,

Now we hate them even more!