The Road to Lexington : Letters and papers of Lord Percy 1768-1776

Bill Openshaw

ISBN 10: 106837831X / ISBN 13: 9781068378317

Published by Hedworth Press Apr 2025, 2025

About this Item

Neuware - The military engagements that occured at Lexington and Concord on 19th April 1775 have been well documented and written about over the last 250 years. One man who was present at the famous clash of arms, was General Lord Percy. This aristocratic officer saved the beleaguered British detachment from a humiliating surrender or worse and fought his way back to Boston in a maelstrom of bloodshed. Not only did Percy earn credit from the British authorities, but also from the rebels. Likewise, Percy was among the first to give respect to the fledgling rag tag American Army and wrote; whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob will find themselves much mistaken.Although much has been written about the Revolutionary War, little has been from a British point of view. Within the archives of Percy's ancestral home at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, there lies a treasure trove of documentation, the greater part of which has never before been published. After careful selecting and transcribing many letters and extracts form journals etc., Bill Openshaw has woven them into a narrative of the events around Boston as they unfolded, from the time of Percy's arrival in 1774 until the British evacuation in 1776. With start of the 250th anniverary of the begining of the American Revolution, Lord Hugh Percy's voice can now once more be heard and allow a different understanding of the war. A second volume is planned which will enable us to follow Lord Percy through the New York Campaign of 1776, through to his time in Rhode Island.In addition, letters by an officer in the 5th Foot recently came to light. William Charleton fought at Bunker Hill and during the campaign around Philadelphia in 1777. His few letters found within the archives at Alnwick Castle, provide further insights and serve as a memorial to another forgotten soldier of the Revolutionary War.

Seller Inventory # 9781068378317

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Road to Lexington : Letters and papers of Lord Percy 1768-1776
• Publisher: Hedworth Press Apr 2025
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 106837831X
• ISBN 13: 9781068378317
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 216W x 140H x 14D millimeters 216 millimeters width by 140 millimeters height by 14 millimeters depth
• Weight: 400 grams

About this title

Synopsis

The military engagements that occured at Lexington and Concord on 19th April 1775 have been well documented and written about over the last 250 years. One man who was present at the famous clash of arms, was General Lord Percy. This aristocratic officer saved the beleaguered British detachment from a humiliating surrender or worse and fought his way back to Boston in a maelstrom of bloodshed. Not only did Percy earn credit from the British authorities, but also from the rebels. Likewise, Percy was among the first to give respect to the fledgling rag tag American Army and wrote; whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob will find themselves much mistaken.
Although much has been written about the Revolutionary War, little has been from a British point of view. Within the archives of Percy's ancestral home at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, there lies a treasure trove of documentation, the greater part of which has never before been published. After careful selecting and transcribing many letters and extracts form journals etc., Bill Openshaw has woven them into a narrative of the events around Boston as they unfolded. On the eve of the 250th anniverary of the begining of the American Revolution, Lord Hugh Percy's voice can now once more be heard and allow a different understanding of the war.
In addition, newly discovered letters from an officer of the 5th Foot, have been published for the first time. Captain William Charleton adds his voice to the British perspective of the occurances in Boston, including Bunker Hill, where he was wounded.

About the Author

Bill Openshaw worked as a government radio engineer and later a prison officer. In 2014, upon semi retirement, he began working as a State Room Guide at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. With a life long interest in military history, he has been a Napoleonic re enactor with the 68th Durham Light Infantry for over 25 years. In 2016, Bill was asked to conduct the military research for a new museum for the Percy Tenantry Volunteers at Alnwick Castle. Raised in 1798 by the 2nd Duke of Northumberland, Bill spent several years searching through many hundreds of records held in the castle archives. With the information he amassed, he had his first book published entitled, "To the call of bugles - The history of the Percy Tenantry Volunteers 1798-1814', published by McNidder & Grace. During his research he became aware of the numerous documents belonging to Lord Hugh Percy, who was a prominant figure in the early years of the American Revolution. As the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is upon us, Bill's new book, 'The road to Lexington, - Letters and papers of lord Percy 1768-1776', brings a new perspective of the begining of the war as seen through British eyes, primarily, Percys. A second volume is planned to cover the New York Campaign of 1776. Bill is married with two grown up children and one grandson and still can be found at Alnwick Castle.