On June 11, 1775, as the 16,000 American forces surrounded Boston, Dr. Joseph Warren – president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and chairman of the Committee of Safety turned thirty-four. His wife had died two years prior leaving him with four children ages one to nine. Though the children had been in the care of his mother and brother Sam at the family home in Roxbury, Warren made plans to move them to the safety of a friend’s home thirty miles from Boston.
Warren did not seek the political positions to which he was appointed. His leadership role as a Patriot from 1765 secured the trust of those in Massachusetts. Warren called the militia to confront the British in Lexington and Concord then worked tirelessly to bring military and governmental order out of chaos. Realizing the rag-tag army of 16,000 provincial soldiers needed structure and discipline, Warren implored the Continental Congress to appoint a commander in chief. As he awaited their reply he decided his place needed to be that of major general of the Massachusetts forces. On June 14, he made known his desire to resign as President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and be commissioned a major general. His commission could not be officiated until a new president was appointed. As he waited he continued the duties of president.
On June 15 word arrived from an informant that the British were planning to occupy Bunker Hill on June 18. Plans were immediately put into motion to beat the British to the hill. Warren participated in and approved the plans – and fully intended to be among the combatants in the imminent battle.
At 9:00 PM the night of June 16 he presided as president at the emergency session of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.in Watertown.
Around midnight Warren secretly rendezvoused at a wharf in Boston with a fellow physician and friend, Dr. John Jeffries, to offer him the position of surgeon general of the military department.
In the early hours of the morning, Warren returned to Watertown where he shared a room with his Harvard chum and fellow member of congress and the committee of safety, Elbridge Gerry. Warren shared with Gerry his plans to participate in the battle. Gerry objected to him putting himself in harm’s way. Warren replied, “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (“It is sweet and noble to die for one’s country.”)
After sleeping a few hours, Warren was awakened by a summons to attend a patient in labor who resided in the neighboring town of Newton.
From Newton, Warren traveled to the Hastings House in Cambridge to chair the morning meeting of the Committee of Safety. After sharing with Elbridge Gerry that he had a severe headache, he retired to a bedchamber to sleep a few hours before the battle began.
Around 3:00 PM, Warren’s former medical apprentice, Dr. David Townsend, came to the Hasting’s House in Cambridge looking for instructions of where he could best serve the battle’s wounded. Finding no one within the house, he happened upon the room where Warren was sleeping and accidently awakened him.
After drinking a cup of chamomile tea for the lingering headache, Warren walked with Townsend to Bunker Hill.
Next: The Battle of Bunker Hill: Joseph Warren’s role (part three)
SOON TO BE RELEASED:
LIBERTY’S MARTYR: THE STORY OF DR. JOSEPH WARREN