Mutiny at Prospect Hill

HUB History - Our Favorite Stories from Boston History

During the summer of 1775, when the siege of Boston was at its peak, about 1500 Pennsylvania Riflemen answered a call for volunteers. By the time they reached the American lines in Cambridge, expectations for these troops were through the roof. Thanks in no small part to a publicity campaign engineered by John Adams, the New England officers commanding the troops around Boston believed that these fresh troops were capable of nearly everything. Their reputation was based in part upon the riflemen’s origins on the frontier, and in part on the advanced weaponry they carried. While they’re the status quo today, rifles were new to both armies that were facing off in Boston and nearly unheard of here in New England. However, fame went to these soldiers’ heads, and after only a couple of months on the front line, they were nearly ungovernable. They refused to take part in the regular duties of an American soldier, they staged jailbreaks when their comrades were locked up for infractions against military discipline, and on September 10th, they staged the first mutiny in the new Continental Army.

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Mutiny at Prospect Hill

• Riflemen Run Riot by Joshua Shepherd
• Making and Unmaking a Military Myth by Thomas A Rider II
• Lt Ziegler and “Our Thirty-two Mutineers” by JL Bell
• June 14, 1775 Congress resolves to enlist ten companies of riflemen
• June 17, 1775 John to Abigail Adams, George Washington to command Continental Army
• June 18, 1775 John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, praising riflemen’s skill
• June 22, 1775 Riflemen to march to Boston ASAP
• July 6, 1775 John Adams to James Warren, Riflemen are gentlemen of independent fortunes
• July 31, 1775 Riflemen in action at Charlestown
• Aug 31, 1775 Riflemen in action at Plowed Hill
• Sept 5, 1775 George Washington’s orders, two companies of riflemen to go on Quebec expedition
• Sept 10, 1775 Nathanael Greene expects trouble from riflemen
• Sept 11, 1775 James Warren to John Adams on the mutiny
• Sept 11, 1775 George Washington’s orders, riflemen to participate in fatigue duty
• Sept 13, 1775 George Washington’s orders, mutineers to be court martialed
• Sept 30, 1775 George Washington complains that his horse is a better shot than immigrant riflemen
• Oct 23, 1775 William Heath complains about immigrant riflemen to John Adams
• Oct 24, 1775 John Thomas to John Adams, riflemen are poor soldiers
• Oct 30, 1775 Artemas Ward thinks the riflemen’s reputation is ruined
• Dec 11, 1775 Billy Tudor was unimpressed with riflemen’s courage
• George Hanger’s comments on rifles and riflemen
• James Thacher’s military journal, describes riflemen’s appearance
• Rifleman Jesse Lukens’ letter about the mutiny