From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol I. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
A deserter from Boston says that Gen. Gage has written home since the battle of Lexington, that the Americans load their rifle-barrel guns with a ball slit almost in four quarters, which when firing out of those weapons, breaks into four pieces and generally does great execution. 1
1 MSS. letter from Hunnewell to Gould.