March 15, 1776

This notice was printed in the left margin of the back page of the Staatsbote, perpendicular to the rest of the news—evidence that suggests the information arrived just before publication of the Friday edition of Henry Miller’s German-language newspaper. The report from Boston was that the Continental Army had begun a bombardment of Boston to force the British out of their months-long occupation. Meanwhile, General William Howe had proposed to evacuate the city if “General Waschington” allowed him to leave freely.

The bombardment was made possible by Henry Knox’s artillery train which moved cannons and other equipment from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge. In a letter George Washington wrote to John Hancock on March 9, he shared that “our Bombardment and Cannonade caused a good deal of Surprize and alarm in Town, as many of the Soldiery said they never heard or thought we had Mortar or Shells.” Intelligence suggested that the British forces were packing up and leaving, along with many of the loyal inhabitants of Boston, and “It was generally thought their destination is Hallifax.”

Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote
Printed by Henry Miller

Wir hören, es soll diesen morgen ein expresser vom lager angekommen feyn, mit der nachricht, daß die Americanische armee Boston bombardirt, und daß General Howe vorgeschlagen habe die stadt zu verlassen, wosern General Waschington ihm erlauben wolle frey auszuziehen.