1776 Almanac: Letter to American Soldiers & An Account of Lexington

"An Astronomical Diary; or, Almanack, for…1776" by Nathanael Low. Massachusetts Bay, [1776]. Twelvemo, 24pp. Featuring an illustrated woodcut on the title page, with astronomical signs.  The book is stitch-sewn, with professional restorations where the edges were chipped, torn, or had paper loss. Uneven toning, soiling, and foxing throughout. Overall good.

The almanac opens with "An Address to the Soldiers of the American Army" written by Low on September 22, 1775. Then follows a printed almanac of calendar pages, above which has been printed (in sections) a lengthy letter detailing the conflicts at Lexington and Concord by Reverend William Gordon of Roxbury. Entitled, "An Account of the Commencement of Hostilities between Great Britain and America", which was sent to a gentleman in England. Although Reverend Gordon was not present at the Battle of Lexington, he spoke with numerous people who were present on the day and recorded their accounts. His details and death count estimations, therefore, are slightly skewed, but still provide an excellent account of the battle. Also included is an account of the Spanish Inquisition arresting a horse, a list of roads to the principal towns and taverns from Boston, and a list of Rates of stages from New York to Philadelphia.

Low's "Address to the Soldiers of the American Army" reads in part:

"My Brethren, Friends, and Fellow Countrymen, The time is at length arrived in which we are reduced to the sad alternative of defending the most sacred and inestimable of all our enjoyments from utter ruin, and ourselves from the grave of political thraldom [sic]…There is not a man of sense and spirit, it is presumed among you all, who, if he seriously reflects upon the state of servitude, and duly considers what it is to be a slave, and at the same time views in the contrast the happiness of a state of freedom, and the real benefits and peculiar blessings resulting from that state, what will [illegible] one moment in the choice. It requires no length of time to determine whether we shall barter away our religion, liberty and all the blessings which our bounteous Creator has given us to enjoy, for the sake of a few moments of temporary ease, or whether we shall defend those rights and privileges (without which life itself is a burden) at the risque [sic] of our lives in the high places of the field…And is it not more glorious to have life's portal opened in the field of battle, while bravely fighting in defence [sic] of such a cause, that you may get beyond the gunshot of tyrants, and the doleful consequences of being within the limits of their fell dominion, than be obliged to wear out a miserable life in slavery and servitude?... This, my brethren, is a prize worth contending for - a prize worth striving after, - a prize that is well worth all the care and pains, fatigue and hazard which now you undergo, and will be a blessed recompense for all your toil…"

Reverend Gordon's account of the Battle of Lexington reads in part:

"…The Lexington company, upon seeing the troops and being of themselves so unequal a match for them, were deliberating for a few moments what they should do, when several dispersing of their own heads, the Captain soon ordered the rest to disperse for their own safety. Before the order was given, three or four of the regular officers, seeing the company as they came up on the rising ground on this side the meeting…upon coming up, one cry'd out, 'you damn'd rebels lay down your arms;' another, 'stop you rebels;' a third, 'disperse you rebels;' &c. Major Pitcairne, I suppose, thinking himself justified by parliamentary authority to consider them all rebels, perceiving that they did not actually lay down their arms, observing that the generality were getting off, while a few continued in their military position, and apprehending there could be no great hurt, in killing few such Yankees…cave the command to fire, then fired his own pistol, and so set the whole affair a-going. There were killed at Lexington eight persons; on Parker, and two or three more, on the common; the rest on the other side of the walls and fences while dispersing. The soldiers fired at persons who had no arms. Eight hundred of the best British troops in America having thus nobly vanquished a company of non-resisting Yankees while dispersing, and slaughtered a few of them by way of experiment, marched forward in the greatness of their might to Concord…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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