The Placer herald., 1857-02-07

plne, and the shame and vexation felt at
being SO annoyed by mere raw recruits, un-
skilled in regular warfare.
For mile before you reach Concord there
is a ridge OF hill-the burying grounds
were here-the road ran parallel to it, and
under this cover the detachment drew up:
the horse were set forward to get or destroy
the stores, and the exhausted foot stopped
for rest and refreshment, while the officers
rode on to town, to Jones tavern for break
fast.
Those that remained began to pull up the
fences for fire-put on their kettles, but
did not stay to eat, for they soon discovered
all the inconvenience of their position
The elevation of land above proved breast
work for the Americans, who here rallied
and opened upon them most destructive
battery.
Soon messengers arrived at Jones' with
word from both ends of the division that the
country was rising en- masse, and pouring in
by thousands. The officers barely stopped
to pay their bill, and sprang through the
next room, to the back door, for their horses
Here they found the boys running bullets
This was the work that day for all the lads
around
"What are those boys doing?" asked one
of the officers of the woman who had waited
upon them.
"You see what they are doing" was her
daring a, swer.
'But what are they for?" he still questioned
"zhat you will find out soon enough"
was the curt reply.
Meanwhile the soldiers who had been sent
on, reached Concord and proceeded to take
up the bridge to hinder any more of the
country people from coming in from the
west, were stopped before they had ripped up
more than two or three of the planks, which
were replaced as soon as removed, and they
found themselves in closer and more dan
gerous struggle than before Two of the
British were killed on this very bridge, where
the Concord river comes in from the south
west, and runs-the main stream--northeast,
being joined by small branch just below
the town, where the mills were situated
| Concord is situated on the Concord river.
near the junction of the Assabett and Sud
bury rivers.)
1t is mistake that there was much am
munition; the stores were mostly provisions,
|
cy, with only few kegs of powder and some
lead. Father reckoned that there were some
thing like fifteen hundred barrels of flour,
l5O0) five hundred (5OO) barrels of pork,
and fifty (5O) barrels of beans We had
worked with will all that morning watch,
so when the enemy hove in sight about day
light the greater part of the store-houses
was secured, and the last team was just wheel
ing off with its load. The barrels, too,
had been distributed according to orders in
the tields some things at the first were de-
posted in private houses, so that we left those
who followed but small pickings The school
books state that the regulars destroyed the
stores before their hurried leave taking
This is true with reserve, that there was
not much remaining to dispose of any way.
Their return to Boston, after doing what
mischief they could, proceeded with fighting
their ground as when they came, at every
step, and so closely did we dog their heels,
and harrass their movements, that it was in
vain for their leaders to try and keep them
in the ranks. 1t was hurry-skurry sort of
advance. Three deserted and came over to
us, one an under officer from whom we CLEAN
ed that the order from head quarters had
been to take wagons and bring away the
stores under guard of the Lighthouse, and this,
it had been supposed, would be easily accom-
plished, as they had left the city so quietly,
and with such force, that it had never oc-
Cured to them that the Continentias would
attempt any continued resistance.
All along the road, the women and chill
dren had left their dwellings for temporary
refuge in the woods and fields Halt hmish-
ed with their hard days duty, and awless
from their exposed situation, the British sol
diery ran in any where they passed, and seiz-
ed whatever eatables they could find Father,
among others of his neighbors, returning on
their trail, killed seven men on his own door
STEP They had broached barrel Of cider,
been to the pantry for bread, and one of
them had loaf in his hand.#
On, on, the Americans followed, close upon
the retreating, wornout troops. No one Of
us staid at bis own house that night, or
thought of food, though the day was far
spent, and we had not broken our fast You
know that everybody kept open house, and
you were sure of welcome and something
to eat, if you happened in anywhere.
The news of the British crossing over with
hostile intentions the night before, had spread
so quickly since, that Putnam, though he
lived in Connecticut. over hundred miles
distant, got the word by eleven o'clock of
the 10th, but knowing, that the brush would
be over before he could reach the scene of
action, he did not come on till the third day,
having purposely delayed in order to bring
reinforcements to Cambridge, where the col
lepes were turned into barracks and where
in an incredibly short space of time, assem-
bled thirty thousand men. Of these Putnam
and Warren selected about seven thousand
l7,OO0) of the best armed and most efficient
and suffered the rest to return to their fami-
lies.
NV father FIRST say DR.. Warren on the