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from History of the Town of Danvers by J. W. Hanson  (A copy of this book is available through the Cullen Library.  Refer to the book to compile a citation.)

page 82 - 86

There had been several gun carriages made by Richard Skidmore a wheel-wright at New Mills, an lodged at Gardner Farm.  A report of this fact had reached Boston, and a detachment of soldiers were sent in a transport, and ordered to land at Marblehead, and march overland to Danvers and destroy them.  The orders were obeyed, and the success they met with may be seen in the following extract from the "America Archives."

(Capt. Samuel Eppes and his company of men had been for some time previous in a state of readiness, and they marched to repel these invaders at the first warning.)

                                                    Salem, Feb 28th, 2775

"Last Sabbath, the 26th inst., the peace of the town was disturbed by the landing of a regiment of the king's troops, the particulars relative to which are as follows:

"A transport arrived at Marblehead, apparently manned as usual.  Between two and three o'clock, (as soon as the people had gone to meeting) the decks were covered with soldiers, who having loaded, and fixed their bayonets, landed with great despatch, and instantly marched off.  Some of the inhabitants suspecting they were bound to Salem, to seize some materials there preparing for an artillery, despatched several messengers to inform us of it.  These materials were on the north side of the North River, and to come at them it was necessary to cross a bridge, one part of which was made to draw up to let vessels pass.  The inhabitants kept a look out for the appearance of the troops.  The van guard arrived, and took their route down town as far as the Long Wharf, perhaps to decoy the inhabitants thither, away from the place to which the main body was destined. The main body arrived soon after and halted a few minutes by the Town House.  It is said that inquiry was immediately made b some of the officers for a half brother of Col. Browne the Mandamus Counsellor.  Be tis as it may, he was seen whispering in the Colonel's ear, in the front of the regiment and when he parted from the Col. the regiment marched with a quick pace towards the North Bridge; just before entering upon which the bridge was pulled up.  The regiment however pushed on till they came to the bridge, not observing (as it seemed)  it was drawn up. The Col. expressed some surprise; and turning about, ordered an officer to face his company to a body of men standing on a wharf on the other side of the draw bridge and to fire.  One of our townsmen (who had kept along side of the Col. from the time he marched from his own house) told him he had better not fire; that he had no right to fire without further orders and if you do fire (said he) you will be all dead men.  The company neither faced nor fired.  The Colonel retired to the centre of his regiment, assembled his officers and held a consultation; which being ended he advanced a little, and declared he would maintain his ground, and go over the bridge if it was a month first.  The same townsman replied, he might stay there  as long as he pleased no one cared for that.  The half brother before mentioned, (it is said) made towards the bridge but seeing the draw bridge up said "it is all over with us."

 "He has since disappeared, meanwhile two large gondolas that lay aground (for it was low water) were scuttled, lest they should cross the channel with them.  But whilst one gentleman was scuttling his own gondola, a party of about twenty soldiers jumped into it, and with their bayonets charged against our unarmed townsmen, (some of whom they pricked) compelled them to quit it; but before this a sufficient hole was made in the bottom.  This attack of the soldiers, and some other occurrences occasioned a little bickering, but by the interposition of some of the inhabitants, the disputes subsided.  At length me gentlemen asked the Colonel what was his design in making this movement, and why he would cross the bridge?  He said, I have orders to cross it, and he would cross it if he lost his life with the lives of all his men; and asked, why the king's highway was obstructed?  He was told it was not the king's road, but the property of the inhabitants, who had a right to do what they pleased with it.  Finally the Col. said he must go over, and if the bridge was let down so as he might pass, he pledged his honor he would not march above thirty roads beyond it, and them immediately return.

"The regiment had now been at the bridge about an hour and a half; and everything being secured, the inhabitants directed that the bridge might be let down.  The regiment immediately passed over, marched a few rods, returned, and with great expedition went back to Marblehead, where they went on board the transport without delay.

"When all the circumstances are considered, there can remain no doubt that the sole purpose of this maneuvre was to steal away the artillery materials.

"It is regretted that an officer of Col. Leslie's acknowledged worth, should be obliged, in obedience to his orders, to come upon so pitiful an errand.  Various reports were spread abroad respecting the troops; the country was alarmed, and one company arrived in arms from Danvers, just as the troops left the town.  We immediately despatched messengers to the neighboring towns to save them the trouble of coming in; but the alarm flew like lightning (and some, doubtless, magnified the first simple reports) so that great numbers were in arms, and some on their march, before our messengers arrived.."  The alarm extended forty miles, and the Essex Gazette of that date, says 40,000 men would have arrived in a few hours.  The British numbered 140, and the Americans under Col. Pickering about 50.  "Many of the people were armed with pitchforks, clubs and other rude weapson.  One man laid bare his bosom and dared the British soldier, who was threatening him with his bayonet, to strike."

Col. Pickering informed John W. Proctor, Esp., that he scuttled with his own hands, one of the gondolas referred to in the above account.

This was the first resistance, bloodless indeed, but determined, which as made on the part of the people of this country to the encroachment of foreign aggression.   In the Town of Salem, nearly two months before the battle of Lexington, the people of Danvers joined by those of Salem, opposed and beat back the fore, and established their title to the quality of determine bravery.  But for the calmness and discretion of Leslie the English Commander, North Bridge, would have taken the place of Lexington, and February 26th would have been forever memorable in the Annals of the Republic.