The battle begins

On the cold snowy morning of March 5th, 1770 angry colonists threatened violence against Private Hugh White. At some point, White fought back and struck a colonist with his bayonet. In defense, the colonists attacked him with snowballs, ice and stones. Bells started ringing throughout the town sending a mass of male colonists into the streets. As the assault on White continued, he eventually fell and called for reinforcements.

In response to White’s plea, Captain Thomas Preston arrived on the scene with several soldiers and took up a defensive position in front of the Custom House.
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Some colonists reportedly pleaded with the soldiers to hold their fire as others dared them to shoot. Preston later reported a colonist told him the protestors planned to “carry off [White] from his post and probably murder him.”