USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the siege of Boston, and of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill. Also an account of the Bunker Hill Monument. With illustrative documents > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
2 Phinney's History, p. 10.
1
60
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
parade some time, were dismissed, with orders to appear again at the beat of the drum. They dispersed into houses near the place of parade - the greater part going into Buckman's tav- ern. It was generally supposed that the movements in Boston were only a feint to alarm the people.1
Revere and Dawes started to give the alarm in Concord, and soon met Dr. Samuel Prescott, a warm patriot, who agreed to assist in arousing the people. While they were thus en- gaged, they were suddenly met by a party of officers, well armed and mounted, when a scuffle ensued, during which Revere was captured; but Prescott, by leaping a stone wall, made his escape. The same officers had already detained three citizens of Lexington, who had been sent out the preced- ing evening to watch their movements. All the prisoners, after being questioned closely, were released near Lexington, when Revere rejoined Hancock and Adams, and went with them towards Woburn, two miles from Mr. Clark's house.2
While these things were occurring, the British regulars were marching towards Concord. Lieutenant-colonel Smith, at the head of about eight hundred troops, - grenadiers, light infantry, and marines, -embarked about ten o'clock at the foot of Boston Common, in the boats of the ships of war. They landed, just as the moon arose, at Phipps Farm, now Lechmere Point, took an unfrequented path over the marshes, where in some places they had to wade through water, and entered the old Charlestown and West Cambridge road. No martial sounds enlivened their midnight march; it was silent, stealthy, inglorious. The members of the "rebel congress"
1 Gordon's Account and Depositions of 1775; Clark. 2 Revere and Gordon.
Hancock and Adams, whose safety was regarded as of the utmost import- ance, were persuaded to retire to the then 2d precinct of Woburn, to the house occupied by Madam Jones, widow of Rev. Thomas Jones, and Rev. Mr. Marett, which is now standing in Burlington, and occupied by Rev. Samuel Sewell. Dorothy Quincy accompanied her intended husband - Hancock. Here, at noon, they had just sat down to an elegant dinner, when a man broke suddenly in upon them with a shriek, and they believed the regulars were upon them. Mr. Marett then piloted Adams and Hancock along a cart-way to Mr. Amos Wyman's house, in a corner of Billerica, where they were glad to dine off of cold salt pork and potatoes, served in a wooden tray. - Letter of Rev. Samuel Sewell.
,
SKIRMISH AT LEXINGTON.
arose from their beds at the tavern in Menotomy, to view them. They saw the front pass on with the regularity of veteran discipline. But when the centre was opposite the window, an officer and file of men were detached towards the house. Messrs. Gerry, Orne, and Lee, half dressed as they were, then took the hint and escaped to an adjoining field, while the British in vain searched the house.1
Colonel Smith had marched but few miles, when the sounds of guns and bells gave evidence that, notwithstanding the caution of General Gage, the country was alarmed. He detached six companies of light infantry, under the command of Major Pitcairn, with orders to press forward and secure the two bridges at Concord, while he sent a messenger to Boston for a reinforcement. The party of officers who had been out joined the main body, with the exaggerated report that five hundred men were in arms to oppose the king's forces. Major Pitcairn, as he advanced, succeeded in capturing every one on the road until he arrived within a mile and a half of Lexing- ton meeting-house, when Thaddeus Bowman succeeded in eluding the advancing troops, and galloping to the common, gave the first certain intelligence to Captain Parker of their approach.2
It was now about half-past four in the morning. Captain Parker ordered the drum to beat, alarm guns to be fired, and Sergeant William Monroe to form his company in two ranks a few rods north of the meeting-house. It was a part of "the . constitutional army," which was authorized to make a regular and forcible resistance to any open hostility by the British troops ; and it was for this purpose that this gallant and devoted band, on this memorable morning, appeared on the field. Whether it ought to maintain its ground, or whether it ought to retreat, would depend upon the bearing and numbers of the regulars. It was not long in suspense. At a short dis- tance from the parade-ground, the British officers, regarding the American drum as a challenge, ordered their troops to halt, to prime and load, and then to march forward in double-quick time. Meantime sixty or seventy of the militia had collected,
1 Gage's Account; Austin's Life of Gerry, 169. 2 Gage's Account ; Phinney's History.
61
---
62
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
and about forty spectators, a few of whom had arms. Captain Parker ordered his men not to fire unless they were fired upon. A part of his company had time to form in a military position facing the regulars ; but while some were joining the ranks, and others were dispersing, the British troops rushed on, shouting and firing, and their officers- among whom was Major Pit- cairn - exclaiming, " Ye villains! ye rebels ! disperse!" "Lay down your arms !" "Why don't you lay down your arms ?" The militia did not instantly disperse, nor did they proceed to lay down their arms. The first guns, few in number, did no execution. A general discharge followed, with fatal results.1
1 Gordon's Letter, May 17, 1775 : Clark's Narrative : Depositions of 1775.
Dr. John Warren, in his Ms. diary, - for which, and for other courtesies, I am indebted to his son, Dr. John C. Warren, - writes, April 19, 1775 : "Some dispersed, but a few continued in a military position ; on seeing which, Major Pitcairn, upon the plea of some person snapping a gun," &c. Gordon also says " a few continued in their military position." This agrees with Bernicre's (British) account, which says : Major Pitcairn cried out for the militia "to throw down their arms and disperse, which they did not do ; he called out a second time, but to no purpose," &c. Gordon also gives the details of a person's, just before the firing, " offering to fire, but the piece flashed in the pan without going off."
Stiles, in his Ms. diary, gives the following interesting relation of Major Pitcairn's own version of the beginning of the firing : -
1775, August 19. - Major Pitcairn, who was a good man in a bad cause, insisted upon it, to the day of his death, that the colonists fired first ; and that he commanded not to fire, and endeavored to stay and stop the firing after it began : but then he told this with such circumstances as convince me that he was deceived, though on the spot. He does not say that he saw the colo- nists fire first. Had he said it, I would have believed him, being a man of integrity and honor. He expressly says he did not see who fired first ; and yet believed the peasants began. His account is this : That riding up to them, he ordered them to disperse ; which they not doing instantly, he turned about to order his troops to draw out so as to surround and disarm them. As he turned, he saw a gun in a peasant's hand, from behind a wall, flash in the pan, without going off ; and instantly, or very soon, two or three guns went off, by which he found his horse wounded, and also a man near him wounded. These guns he did not see ; but believing they could not come from his own people, doubted not, and so asserted, that they came from our people, and that thus they began the attack. The impetuosity of the king's troops was such, that a promiscuous, uncommanded, but general fire took place, which Pitcairn could not prevent ; though he struck his staff or sword downwards with all earnestness, as the signal to forbear or cease firing.
SKIRMISH AT LEXINGTON. 63
A few of the militia who had been wounded, or who saw others killed or wounded by their side, no longer hesitated, but returned the fire of the regulars. Jonas Parker, John Mon- roe, and Ebenezer Monroe, jr., and others, fired before leaving the line; Solomon Brown and James Brown fired from behind a stone wall ; one other person fired from the back door of Buckman's house; Nathan Monroe, Lieutenant Benjamin Tidd, and others, retreated a short distance and fired.1 Mean- time the regulars continued their fire as long as the militia remained in sight, killing eight and wounding ten. Jonas Parker, who repeatedly said he never would run from the British, was wounded at the second fire, but he still dis-
1 This account is not more than just to Lexington. The contemporary evidence of this return fire is too positive to be set aside. In the counter manifesto to Gage's proclamation, prepared in June, 1775, which was not published at the time, it is said that the British, " in a most barbarous and infamous manner, fired upon a small number of the inhabitants, and cruelly murdered cight men. The fire was returned by some of the survivors, but their number was too inconsiderable to annoy the regular troops, who pro- ceeded on their errand, and upon coming up to Concord," &c. &c. I copy from Ms. in Mass. archives. Gordon, May 17, 1775, says that James Brown informed him, that " being got over the wall, and seeing the soldiers fire pretty freely, he fired upon them, and some others did the same." Depo- sition number 8, of 1775, is clear : - " About five o'clock in the morning we attended the beat of our drum, and were formed on the parade. We were faced towards the regulars, then marching up to us, and some of our com- pany were coming to the parade with their hacks towards the troops; and others on the parade began to disperse, when the regulars fired on the com- pany, before a gun was fired by any of our company on them." The great point was as to who fired first. Clark says : - " So far from firing first upon the king's troops, upon the most careful inquiry, it appears, that but very few of our people fired at all, and even they did not fire till, after being fired upon by the troops, they were wounded themselves," &c. Phinney's His- tory contains the details, with depositions, which, as to the main fact, are sup- ported by the authorities of 1775. All the British accounts state that the fire was returned, or rather they state that it was begun, by the militia. This last assertion, made in Gage's hand-bill, (see Appendix,) was contradicted. Much controversy took place about it, and the Provincial Congress account was pre- pared in reference to it. As late as May 3, 1776, a London journal says : - " It is whispered that the ministry are endeavoring to fix a certainty which party fired first at Lexington, before hostilities commenced, as the Congress declare, if it can be proved that American blood was first shed, it will go a great way towards effecting a reconciliation on the most honorable terms."
6
64
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
charged his gun, and was killed by a bayonet. "A truer heart did not bleed at Thermopyla."' Isaac Muzzy, Jon- athan Harrington, and Robert Monroe, were also killed on or near the place where the line was formed. "Harrington's was a cruel fate. He fell in front of his own house, on the north of the common. His wife at the window saw him fall, and then start up, the blood gushing from his breast. He stretched out his hands towards her, as if for assistance, and fell again. Rising once more on his hands and knees, he crawled across the road towards his dwelling. She ran to meet him at the door, but it was to see him expire at her feet."2 Monroe was the standard bearer of his company at the capture of Louisburg. Caleb Harrington was killed as he was running from the meeting-house, after replenishing his stock of powder ; Samuel Hadley and John Brown, after they had left the common ; Asahel Porter, of Woburn, who had been taken prisoner by the British, as he was endeavoring to effect his escape.3 The British suffered but little ; a private of the 10th regiment, and probably one other, were wounded, and Major Pitcairn's horse was struck.' Some of the provin- cials retreated up the road leading to Bedford, but most of them across a swamp to a rising ground north of the common. The British troops formed on the common, fired a volley, and gave three huzzas in token of their victory.5 Colonel Smith, with the remainder of the troops, soon joined Major Pitcairn, and the whole detachment marched towards Concord, about six miles distant, which it reached without further interruption. After it left Lexington six of the regulars were taken pris- oners.
Concord was described in 1775, by Ensign Bernicre, as fol- lows: It "lies between two hills, that command it entirely. There is a river runs through it, with two bridges over it. In summer it is pretty dry. The town is large, and contains a church, jail, and court-house; but the houses are not close together, but in little groups." The road from Lexington entered Concord from the south-east. along the side of a hill,
' Everett's Lexington Address. ? Ib. 3 Phinney's History. 'Gage's account. 5 Phinney and Clark.
65
ALARM IN CONCORD.
which commences on the right of it about a mile below the village, rises abruptly from thirty to fifty feet above the road, and terminates at the north-easterly part of the square. The top forms a plain, which commands a view of the town. Here was the liberty pole. The court-house stood near the present county-house. The main branch of the Concord river flows sluggishly, in a serpentine direction, on the west- erly and northerly side of the village, about half a mile from its centre. This river was crossed by two bridges, - one called the Old South Bridge - the other, by the Rev. William Emerson's, called the Old North Bridge. The road beyond the North Bridge led to Colonel James Barrett's, about two miles from the centre of the town.1
Dr. Samuel Prescott, whose escape has been related, gave the alarm in Lincoln and Concord. It was between one and two o'clock in the morning when the quiet community of Con- cord were aroused from their slumbers by the sounds of the church bell. The committee of safety, the military officers, and prominent citizens, assembled for consultation, Messen- gers were despatched towards Lexington for information ; the militia and minute-men were formed on the customary parade- ground near the meeting-house; and the inhabitants, with a portion of the militia, under the able superintendence of Colonel Barrett, zealously labored in removing the military stores into the woods and by-places for safety. These scenes were novel and distressing ; and among others, Reverend Wil-
! " There were at this time in this vicinity," Shattuck writes, " under rather imperfect organization, a regiment of militia, and a regiment of min- ute-men. The officers of the militia were, James Barrett, colonel ; Ezekiel Howe, of Sudbury, lieutenant-colonel ; Nathan Barrett and George Minot, of Concord ; Joseph Robbins, of Acton ; John Moore, of Bedford ; Samuel Farrar, of Lincoln ; and Moses Stone and Aaron Hayes, of Sudbury, captains. The officers of the minute-men were, Abijah Pierce, of Lincoln, colonel ; Thomas Nixon, of Framingham, lieutenant-colonel ; John Buttrick, of Con- cord, major ; Jacob Miller, of Holliston, second major ; Thomas Hurd, of East Sudbury, adjutant ; David Brown and Isaac Davis, of Acton ; William Smith, of Lincoln ; Jonathan Wilson, of Bedford ; John Nixon, of Sudbury, captains. There were also two small companies of horse, - one in Concord and one in Sudbury, - but they were out among the foot companies at this time." - History of Concord. 1
66
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
liam Emerson, the patriotic clergyman, mingled with the people, and gave counsel and comfort to the terrified women and children.
Reuben Brown, one of the messengers sent to obtain infor- mation, returned with the startling intelligence that the British regulars had fired upon his countrymen at Lexington, and were on their marchi for Concord.1 It was determined to go out to meet them.2 A part of the military of Lincoln, -- the minute-men, under Captain William Smith, and the militia, under Captain Samuel Farrar, - had joined the Concord people ; and after parading on the common, some of the com- panies marched down the Lexington road until they saw the British two miles from the centre of the town. Captain Minot, with the alarm company, remained in town, and took possession of the hill near the liberty pole.3 He had no sooner gained it, however, than the companies that had gone down the road returned with the information that the number of the British was treble that of the Americans. The whole then fell back to an eminence about eighty rods distance, back of the town, where they formed in two battalions.4 Colonel Barrett, the commander, joined them here, having previously been engaged in removing the stores. They had scarcely formed, when the British troops appeared in sight at the dis- tance of a quarter of a mile, and advancing with great celer- ity, - their arms glittering in the splendor of early sunshine. But little time remained for deliberation. Some were in favor of resisting the further approach of the troops; while others,
' Nathan Barrett and others, April 23, 1775, state, that they assembled " in consequence of an information that a number of regular troops had killed six of our countrymen at Lexington." See also depositions of John Hoar and others, of the same date. Emerson says : " We were the more cautious to prevent beginning a rupture with the king's troops, as we were then uncer- tain what had happened at Lexington, and knew (not) that they had began the quarrel there by firing upon our people, and killing eight men upon the spot." To emphasize " uncertain " and " had began," will make this har- monize with the depositions. Colonel Baldwin says in his diary that he heard the firing at Lexington, saw the men lay dead on the field, and then pressed on to Concord.
? Reverend William Emerson's Account, an excellent contemporary author- ity, part of it not discovered until 1835. 3 Emerson and Ripley. ‘ Emer- son ; Clark's Narrative.
67
THE BRITISH ENTER CONCORD.
more prudent, advised a retreat and a delay until further rein- forcements should arrive. Colonel Barrett ordered the militia to retire over the North Bridge to a commanding eminence about a mile from the centre of the town.1
The British troops then marched into Concord in two divis- ions; one by the main road, and the other on the hill north of it, from which the Americans had just retired. They were posted in the following manner. The grenadiers and light infantry, under the immediate command of Colonel Smith, remained in the centre of the town. Captain Parsons, with six light companies, about two hundred men, was detached to secure the North Bridge and to destroy stores, who stationed three companies, under Captain Laurie, at the bridge, and proceeded with the other three companies to the residence of Colonel Barrett, about two miles distant, to destroy the maga- zines deposited there. Captain Pole, with a party, was sent, for a similar purpose, to the South Bridge .? The British met with but partial success in the work of destruction, in conse- quence of the diligent concealment of the stores. In the centre of the town they broke open about sixty barrels of flour. nearly half of which was subsequently saved; knocked off the trunnions of three iron twenty-four pound cannon, and burnt sixteen new carriage-wheels and a few barrels of wooden trenchers and spoons. They cut down the liberty pole, and set the court-house on fire, which was put out, how- ever, by the exertions of Mrs. Moulton. The parties at the South Bridge, and at Colonel Barrett's, met with poor success. While engaged in this manner, the report of guns at the North Bridge put a stop to their proceedings.3
The British troops had been in Concord about two hours. During this time the minute-men from the neighboring towns had been constantly arriving on the high grounds, about a mile from the North Bridge, until they numbered about four hundred and fifty.4 They were formed in line by Joseph Hosmer, who acted as adjutant. It is difficult, if not impos- sible, to ascertain certainly what companies were present thus early in the day. Many came from Carlisle, from Chelmsford,
1 Ripley ; Emerson ; Depositions of 1775. 2 British Account. 3 Emerson ; Shattuck's History ; Clark's Narrative. 4 Ripley's History.
6*
6S
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
from Westford, from Littleton, and from Acton. The minute- men of Acton were commanded by Captain Isaac Davis, a brave and energetic man. Most of the operations of the British troops were visible from this place of rendezvous, and several fires were seen in the middle of the town. Anxious apprehen- sions were then felt for its fate. A consultation of officers, and of prominent citizens, was held. It was, probably, during this conference that Captain William Smith, of Lincoln, volun- teered, with his company, to dislodge the British guard at the North Bridge.1 Captain Isaac Davis, as he returned from it to his ranks, also remarked, "I haven't a man that's afraid to go." 'The result of this council was, that it was expedient to dislodge the guard at the North Bridge.2 Colonel Barrett, accordingly, ordered the militia to march to it, and to pass it, but not to fire on the king's troops unless they were fired upon. He designated Major John Buttrick to lead the companies to effect this object. Lieutenant-colonel Robinson volunteered to accompany him. On the march, Major Buttrick requested Colonel Robinson to act as his superior, but he generously declined.
It was nearly ten oclock in the morning, when the provin- cials, about three hundred in number,3 arrived near the river. The company from Acton was in front, and Major Buttrick, Colonel Robinson, and Captain Davis, were at their head. Captains David Brown, Charles Miles, Nathan Barrett, and William Smith, with their companies, and also other compa- nies, fell into the line. Their positions, however, are not pre- cisely known.4 They marched in double file, and with trailed
1 Massachusetts Archives : " Lincoln, November, 1776. This may cer tify, that Captain William Smith, of Lincoln, in the County of Middlesex, appeared on Concord parade early in the morning of April 19, 1775, with his company of minute-men ; was ordered to leave his horse by the field officer, and take post on an adjacent hill, - the British troops possessing the North Bridge. He voluntarily offered, with his company, to endeavor to dislodge them, leaving his horse at the tavern ; by which means, on their retreat, the horse, &c., were carried off, with one of their wounded men. JOHN BUT- TRICK, Major."
2 William Smith's Petition, 1775. Gordon's Letter, May 17, 1775. 3 Dep- ositions of 1775. 4 Ripley's History. See on the Acton company Adams' Address. Gordon says this company made the front.
1
THE CONCORD FIGHT.
69
arms.1 The British guard, under Captain Laurie, about one hundred in number, were then on the west side of the river ; but on seeing the provincials approach, they retired over the bridge to the east side of the river, formed as if for a fight, and began to take up the planks of the bridge .? Major But- trick remonstrated against this, and ordered his men to hasten their march. When they had arrived within a few rods of the bridge, the British began to fire upon them. The first guns, few in number, did no execution ; others followed with deadly effect. Luther Blanchard, a fifer in the Acton company, was first wounded ; and afterwards Captain Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer, of the same company, were killed.3 On seeing the fire take effect, Major Buttrick exclaimed, "Fire, fellow-sol- diers ! for God's sake, fire !" The provincials then fired, and killed one and wounded several of the enemy. The fire lasted but few minutes. The British immediately retreated, in great confusion, towards the main body, - a detachment from which were soon on their way to meet them. The provincials pursued them over the bridge, when one of the wounded of the British was cruelly killed by a hatchet.4 Part of the provincials soon turned to the left, and ascended the
1 Letter in Concord paper, 1824. 2 Depositions of 1775.
3 The evidence in relation to the firing is as follows. Emerson says : We received the fire of the enemy in three several and separate discharges of their pieces, before it was returned by our commanding officer. Clark says : Upon the provincials' approach towards the bridge, Captain Laurie's party fired upon them, killed Captain Davis and another man dead upon the spot, and wounded several others. Upon this, our militia rushed on, &c. Gor- don says, that Mr. Emerson saw the firing, and " was very uneasy till he found that the firing was returned." Colonel James Barrett, and four others, testify, (1775,) that two of the militia were killed, and several wounded, before the fire was returned. Captain Nathan Barrett, and twenty-three others, say, that " when we got near the bridge they fircd on our men, first three guns, one after the other, and then a considerable number more ; upon which, and not before, we fired upon the regulars, and they retreated," - without saying that any were killed. Adams, in his Centennial, discusses this question with acuteness.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.