On the 17th of October, 1777, Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his army as prisoners of war. They were ordered to Cambridge, where they arrived in the following month, and were placed under the charge of Gen. Heath, the commander of this military district. ‘As soon as he was notified that these troops were coming under his direction, he set himself in earnest to prepare for their reception. The barracks at Prospect and Winter Hills were directed to be put instantly in order. The Council was applied to, to aid in the procurement of quarters from the citizens for the officers; nor was this an easy task. The families of the citizens generally wanting the room in their respective houses rendered it difficult to obtain so many quarters as were necessary for so great a number, and extended the limits of the parole very considerably.’1 Gen. Burgoyne had quarters assigned to him in the Borland House, Gen. Riedesel in the Lechmere (or Sewall) House, and others elsewhere. The soldiers occupied barracks on Prospect and Winter Hills.
‘Between 11 and 12 o'clock’ on the 5th of April, 1778, ‘General Burgoyne left Cambridge for Rhode Island;’ and on the 15th ‘a division of the Convention troops marched for Rutland, under escort of a detachment of militia, commanded by Major Read.’2 The remainder of ‘the Convention troops marched for Virginia,’ on the 10th and 11th of November, 1778,3 after having been prisoners of war somewhat more than a year. During their continuance in and around Cambridge, vexatious collisions were of frequent occurrence; and two, of a more serious character, produced painful excitement. In January, 1778, ‘Col. Henley, who had the immediate command at Cambridge,’ being treated insolently by a British soldier, ‘pricked him with a sword or bayonet. Gen. Burgoyne immediately presented a complaint against Col. Henley, charging him with barbarous and wanton conduct and intentional murder.’4 A spicy correspondence ensued between Generals Burgoyne and Heath. The case was duly examined by a court martial, and Col. Henley was acquitted.5 June 17, 1778. ‘A British officer was shot by an American sentinel on Prospect Hill, the officer attempting to pass contrary to the standing orders.’ A jury of inquest, consisting of
