Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-20
Bancroft on the Battle of Lexington

cal Society, on Tuesday evening, the oh,
Mr.. BANCROFT read paper on the battle OF
Lexington, April l9th, l175. being in sub
stance a chapter from his forthcoming nl5to-
~ of the Revolution.
"On the afternoon of the 9Th of April, the
day on which the provincial Congress OF
Massachusetts, adjourned, Gage took the light
infantry and grenadiers of duty, and secret
ly prepared au expedition TO destroy the col
ouy's stores at Concord. But the attempt
bad for several weeks been expected; strict
watch had been kept; and signals were CON
crttei 70 announce the first movement OF
troops for the country. Samuel Afam5 ana
Hancock, who had not yet lett Lexington Tor
Philadelphia, received timely message
from Warren, and, in consequence, the com
mittee of safety removed part OF the pubic
stores and secreted the cannon.
Ga Tuesday, the lSth, ten or more ser
geants in Disguise dispersed themselves
through Cambridge and further west, to 10
tercept all communication. In the follow
ins ri ght the grenadiers and light infantry,
not less than eight hundred in number, the
flower of the army at Boston, commanded By
tue incompetent Lieu,. CJlJnel Smith, eros
sed 10 the boats Of the transport ships from
the foot of the Common t. East Cambridge.
There they received days provisions, and
near midnight, after wailng through wet
marshes that are now covered by stately
town, they took the road through West Cam
bridge to Concord.
They will miss their aim" said one OF
the party who observed their departure.
What aim ?" asked Lord Percy, who over
heard the remark. why, the cannon at
Concord" was the answer. Percy FASTENED
to Gage, who Instantly directed tnat no one
should be suffered to leave the town. But
Warren had already, at ten o'clock, des-
patched William Dawes through Rrxbury to
Lexington, and at the same time desired
Paul Revere t. set of by way OF Charlcs.Own.
Revere stopped only TO engage a friend -
raise the concerted signals, ana five minutes
before the sentioel received the order TO pre-
vent il, two friends rowed him past the Som
erset man-oi- var across Charles river. All
was STILL as suited the hour. The ship was
winding with the young food; the waning
moon Just peered above clear horizon;
while from couple Of lanterns in the tower
of the North church, the beacon Streamed to
the neishboring towns as fast as light could
navel.
A li.tle beyond Charleston Neck, Revere
was intercepted by two British officers on
horseback but being himself we'll mounted,
be tnrned suddenly, and, leading one ot them
into a clay poai, escaped from the other BY
the road t. MeIf,rd. ~ be passed Gu Ia
walked the captain Of the minutc-men OF that
town, and cuutinued to rouse almost every
house on the way to Lexington.
f-;na of onns and the ringing of bells an
nonncc1 that their expedlti6o had been
beralded before them, and Smith sent back
- demand p reinforo,ment
IN rho rnornins If the I0tb of Aoril. be-
,wacn the h,ur. Of - and |. the Message
Sror, Warren reached Adams and Uaucycl.
,rI,, d;,iro1 # o,,.a tho oliact If the ozpptj.
,;ar p,,oro ,horof,ro and D,ras i'ioed
~" .,'',oI nr.s,,,, 8, s1, e ,in,r,y > from,
~ ~ .u';, t,r,,a-I lin, thn inhab.
i ,i,a,, ,,,,g,t nI~r, III in Iinc,l,
,Lor CHI nrn, nar,y If prifish ,ii,ers
ar5 D,w's u.re .eiyeJ and takon
haoL - Iex;ra,on vyb,re thew were released
but Prescott leaned over a low stone wall
and galloped on for Concord.
There at about two in the morning, peal
from the belfry of the meeting house called
the inhabitants of the place to their town
hall They came forth, young aud old, with
their flrelIcks, ready to make good the reso-
lutte words Of their town debates. Among
the most alert was William Emerson, the
minister. With gun 10 hand, his pOwder-horn
and npuch for balls sluug over his shoulder
Bv his sermon, aud PRAYERS he had SC hal.
. I.wpd the enthusiasm Of his iiock, that they
hold the defence Of their Liberties a part oi
,Lcir covenant with & d; his presence with
arms nroved his siQcerlty and siren theued
tbcir sense Of duty.
FRAN davbreak to sunrise the summons
ran from house 10 house through Acton
T,,reso messengers and yolleys from minute
nan snre,d the alarm. How children trem-
i,IoJ ~ ,bov ,vore scared ont of rleep by the
cricsT USw wives, with heayirg breasts,
hr,vcjv seconded their husbaods; how the
c5uutfymen. forced suddenly to arms, with
out Guides or cYuusellofs, took instant coun.
sal If ,beir caurage, Tie mighty chorus OF
vices rose from tie scattered farmhouse,
and A. il were, from tne very ashes of the
dood-Coma f,rlh chamnjCns OF liberty;
now FREQ vour country, protect YOUR sons and
dom,htors vour wiys, and bomesteads; res
o tho Kansas of tho Cad of vour fathers
~ fran,h;sos hond.d dawn from vour An.
oas,ors Nnw all il at stake. the battle Is
e. all
! Jov;,,,or IN l775 NAV have had 700 in.