A Bloody Massacre
The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street, Boston on March 5th 1770 by a Party of the 29th Regiment
Engraving with hand coloring by Paul Revere, Boston, 1770
22.8 cm x 20 cm
This engraving by Paul Revere depicts the Redcoats' captain urging a point-blank volley into a defenseless crowd, an event now known as the Boston Massacre. Although colorful and dramatic, the scene is historically inaccurate. On the evening of 5 March 1770, a crowd gathered outside the Customs House in Boston to taunt the British soldiers standing guard. Reinforcements were called, shots rang out, and when the smoke cleared three locals lay dead and eight wounded. But, unlike Revere's interpretation, no shots were ordered. Revere, an ardent patriot, added additional touches, such as the sign that reads "Butcher's Hall" over the Customs House. Appearing so soon after the event, this engraving was widely circulated and admired, and it continues to influence the way many view this historical event.
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