What is the biggest difference of opinion between these two accounts? what caused the general hostility between colonists and troops
what incited the British soldiers to shoot into the crowd
what resulted from the massacre in the city of Boston
what happened after the first few shots were fired

In passing to this station the soldiers pushed several persons with their bayonets . . . . This occasioned some snowballs to be thrown at them which seems to have been the only provocation that was given. . . . the soldiers of his detachment had attacked the people with their bayonets and . . . there was not the least provocation . . . .

Captain Preston is said to have ordered them to fire, and to have repeated that order.

–Witnesses to the massacre

On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders, they said they heard the word "fire” and supposed it came from me. This might be the case as many of the mob called out, "Fire, fire,” but I assured the men that I gave no such order; that my words were, "Don’t fire, stop your firing.” In short, it was scarcely possible for the soldiers to know who said fire, or don’t fire, or stop your firing.

–British officer Thomas Preston