George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

On the seventeenth, the indignant people assembled in the fields to the number of three thousand, and without planning retaliation, expressed abhorrence and contempt of the soldiers as enemies to the Constitution, and to the peace of the city.¹ The soldiers replied by an insulting placard; and on two successive days engaged in an affray with the citizens, in which wounds and bruises were received on both sides,² but the latter had the advantage. The newspapers loudly celebrated the victory; and the Sons of Liberty, purchasing a piece of land near the junction of Broadway and the high road to Boston erected a pole, strongly guarded by iron bands and bars, deeply sunk into the earth, and inscribed ‘Liberty and Property.’ At the same time, the brave MacDougall, son of a devout Presbyterian of the Scottish isle of Ila, a man who had made a fortune as a sailor, and had himself carefully cultivated his mind, courageous and fiery, yet methodical and self-possessed,³ was persecuted by the Government. In consequence of his appeal to the people against the concessions of the Assembly, which voted supplies to the troops, he was indicted for a libel; and refusing to give bail, this ‘first Son of Liberty in bonds for the glorious cause’ was visited by such throngs in his prison, that he was obliged to appoint hours for their reception.⁴