Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-07


here in seryitude.''
At dead of the night which preceded the bat
tie Of Lexington, 800 British grenadlers and reg
ulars leaped silently into boats, crossed over
Charles River bay to Lechmere Point, and with
great wariness and expedition, struck across
through bushes and marsh-mud to gain the high
road, which led to Lexington and Concord: But
the vgiant colonists were not unapprlZed OF their
motions. As soon as a regular had leaped into
boat, fleet horse was in the wind to carry the
alarm into the country. Suddenly, the sleeping
hills re-echoed to the clang Of the church-bell Il
shrill war notes whistled among the vallles, and
the gloomness of night gave wild presentment Of
more gloomy reality Then was the time for the
dark spirit to arouse its sleeping energies. The
cottager awakes, and fances that he already hears
the clang Of arms and the ruthless shout Of the
fierce grenadier, as he rushes to sheath his bayO-
net in the bodies of his wife and children. lie
springs from his couch, buckles on his leathem
grdles, already supplied with the ammunition OF
death, and grasps his faithful musket then turn
ing to cast look, perhaps the last upon his wife
and Children their faces pale with emotion and
more anxious for him than themselves, strengthen
the nerves of his resolution. They cling to him Il
he conjures them to be quiet, and he will defend
them, and rushes from his cottage
i The drum was heard which calls them to the
field. BY the light of the moon he hastens thither
The night is still again-no sound of the enemy is
heard-an awful silence ensues. Soon, however,
horses hoofs are heard-a breathless courier ar
rives announcing the near approach of 1900 of
the enemy. And what couldffty militia yeoman,
drawn up in battle array on the field Of Lexington,
think of doing with 500 British infantry, by thus
boldly ntercepting their progress, while not another
one of their cOuntrymen had taken up arms or ever
shed drop of English blood What but an utter
reckessness of life an enthusiastic ardOr to be the
first in their countrys defence, mad determine
ton to thwart the first encroachment Of tyranny,
heightened by the midnight scene and the sudden
outrage Of a mercenary foe, could have induced
them to take such a stand } Yet it was WE'LL
Now that the mighty struggle is over, which made
us fee, we applaud such ready and Spartan spirit !;
such promptness and daring in our fathers to 60
forward and resist, like the band Of Leondas, the
the first approaches of oppression.
Parker, their captain charged them to keep
their ground and not give the first fire. 'Let us
not" says he "begin> the quarrel but if they
will have war, here let it be determined. Let
them prick vein Of us, if they dare. Should we
fall, it Is no common cause on no trifmg Occa-
sion. We shall be revenged." The enemy
were now within 100 rods, and their bright arms
were just seen glimmerng in the moonlight
They had heard the war-drum of the villagers,
halted, charged their pieces, and were now coming
up in double-quck time. What could have been
their thoughts on thus discovering this handful of
yeomen quietly drawn up in silent and motionless
array on the open field to meet them, notwith-
standing all the wariness and expedition Of their
march from the metropolis under cover of the
night The enemy came up shouting to within
ten rods of the unshrinking villagers. "Disperse
you rebels ~ beloved out the English colonel,
,.,,th bic
them, brandishing his broad-sword, and in the
same breath ordering his foremost ranks to fire.
The first platoon fired over the heads of the vii
layers, who still remained silent and undismayed.
A second more general discharge was made d-
rectly among them. Seven Americans fell to the
earth. The rest broke and dispersed with re-
treating fire, which, however, only wounded a
few of the enemy. The British kept up their fire
as long they csuld see one to fire ut.
cat the first fire" says J. Munroe, one Of the
surviving villagers, 81 thought, and so stated to Z.
Munroe, who stood next to me on the left, they
hod fred Ivtl,,g but powder but on the second
firing, NJ said, that they had fred something more
than powder, for he had received wound in his
arm ; and now, said he, "Pl give them the con-
tents of my gum" We then both took ann at the
main body Of the British troops,-the smoke pre-
vented our seeing anything but the heads of some
Of their horses-and discharged our pieces. After
the second fire of the British troops, distinctly
siw J. Parker struggling on the ground, with his
gun in his hand, apparently attempting to load it.
In this situation, the British up, run him thro'
with the bayonet and killed him on the spot. After
had fired the first time, retreated about ten rods,
ind then loaded my gun a second time with two
balls and on firing at the British, the strength of
he charge took off about foot Of my gunbarrel."
Hist. Battle at Lexington by E. Phinney.) The
oonquerors on gaining the field and thus opening
the foOd-gates Of ths revolutionary war, drew up
en- the battle ground, fired volley, and gave three
luzzas, and soon after were on the highway again
for Concord The villagers closed warly upon
their rear, and made prisoners Of six regulars, who
Uttered behind.
On the return of the enemy from Concord, in
the afternoon of the same day, the vanquished
villagers had completely rallied, and with the yeo-
manry of all the surrounding towns, took them at
much better advantage than in the morning, ply
ing them in flank and rear from stOne-wal ram
parts, and the trunks of the trees, in the true In
dan style Their fire was continual and deadly,
yet would have been much more so, had not Lord
Percy reinforced the enemy from Boston, with
one thousand men and some field pieces These
now roared against the Americans. Houses were
pillaged and in flames, and women and children
hurried away to the woods. The royal forces
collected on commanding hill about mile be-
low the church, recruited themselves there, and
by night succeeded in reaching Bunker-hill. For
ty nine Americans fell in the battle, and sixtyfve
of the British. 1t was not great in profusion Of
blood, but only for the occasion, on which it was
fought, and the circumstances which attended it.
1t has been said by one of our first orators that,
when our country shall have grown mightier in
future times. and national h;s+c-, L-n i.'o rvui-
cd out its tones, and the dusk Of antiquity shall
have begun to gather round and consecrate the
leading events of her earliest establishment, when
our chidren's children shall have multiplied, this
battle will be compared to that Of the Spartans of
Leondas, and Lexington and Themopyle will
be pronounced together. But athouph this NAV