were to be had from the military
authorities. When there was fresh meat in the town the Whigs could get
little of it without repudiating their political creed; when the supply
was scant, the Whigs went without. "They even denied us," wrote John
Andrews, looking back upon this period, "the privilege of buying the
surplusage of the soldiers' rations." Even before Bunker Hill he had
written, "It's hard to stay cooped up here and feed upon salt
provisions, more especially without one's wife.... Pork and beans one
day, and beans and pork another, and fish when we can catch it."
Throughout the summer the situation was little bettered. "A loaf of
bread the size we formerly gave three pence for, thought ourselves well
off to get for a shilling. Butter at two shillings. Milk, for months
without tasting any."

There were certain Whigs whose experiences were more grim. To Gage,
always in fear of betrayal to the enemy, there came rumors pointing to
men whose known sentiments, or whose actions, subjected them to
suspicion. Among these were one Carpenter, a barber, who had swum to
Cambridge and back; one "Dorrington, his son and maid, for blowing up
flies"[134]; but particularly John Leach and James Lovell,
schoolmasters, with Peter Edes, printer, and his father's partner, John
Gill. All of these four were obnoxious to the Tories, being outspoken
Whigs and teachers of sedition, whether in their schools or their
publications. One by one they were imprisoned in the common jail, and
held there during various terms. Their treatment was harsh and
ungenerous, held in close neighborhood with felons and loose livers, and
not informed of what they were accused. Leach and Edes kept diaries when
in prison. "From the 2d July to the 17th," writes Leach, "a Complicated
scene of Oaths, Curses, Debauchery, and the most horrid Blasphemy,
committed by the Provost Marshal, his Deputy and Soldiers, who were our
guard, Soldier prisoners, and sundry soldier women, confined for Thefts,
&c.... When our Wives, Children, and Friends came to see us, (which was
seldom they were permitted) we seemed to want them gone, notwithstanding
we were desirous of their Company, as they were exposed to hear the most
abandon'd language, as was grating to the ears of all sober persons."
This Leach suspected to be intentional, but the offensive actions and
words were incessant, especially on Sundays.

On the 17th Leach's son died, "whom I left well in my house"; but he was