The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-15
r. I {. +. assss s.s.a 81 O0A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

s.s ,> 2 t...s Sc 90 "A
s.;f THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. ,,a
synopsis Of Paper Read Bef.re the New Ysra
| Historical secie'y, By George bancroft. :,
Mr.. Bancroft began by asserting and trac-
ing the continuity Of perceptions and pow.
ers, which, in the action Of the people Of
America, and through the inspiration which
came from the masses, led to the struggle
for American Independence, inaugurated BY
the battle Of Lexington. The details Of
that battle, as given BY the lecturer, consti-
tute in the man, one of the chapters Of his
new volume Of the History Of the United
States. He said: q, .,
On the afternoon of the 18th Of April,
IT'S, the day on which the Provincial Con-
gress of Massachusetts, adj burned, Gage took
the light infantry and grenadiers of duty,
and secretly prepared an expedition to de-
stroy the Colony stores at Concord. But
the attempt had for several weeks been ex.
pected; strict watch had been kept; and
signals were concerted to announce the Ist
movement of troops for the country. Sam.
Adams and Hancock, who had not yet left
Lexington for Philadelphia, received timely
message from Warren, and, in consequence,
the Committee OF. Safety removed part of
the public stores and secreted the cannon.
On Tuesday, (the 18th, ten or more SER
geants in disguise dispersed themselves
through Cambridge and further west, to
intercept all COMMUNICATION. In the fol.
lowing night, the grenadiers and light in
ia bo, IL h,,~
Der, the flower of the army at Boston,
commanded by the incompetent Lieut.. Col.
Smith, crossed in the boats Of the transport
ships from the foot Of the Common to East
Cambridge. There they received days
provisions, and near midnight, after wading
through wet marshes, that are now covered
by a stately town, they took the road through
West Cambridge to Concord. 1s bss'7as7Tl
''They will miss their aim,'' said one of
party who observed their departure.
"What aim ?" asked Lord Percy, who over
heard the remark. ssWhy, the cannon at
Concord, J" was the answer. Percy hastened
to Gage, who instantly directed that no one
should be suffered to leave the town. But
Warren had already, at ten O'Clock, des-
patched William Dawes through Roxbury
to Lexington, and at the same time desired
Paul to set off BY way of Charleston.
Revere stopped only to engage friend
to raise the concerted signals; and FIVE min
utes before the sentinels received the order
to prevent it, two friends rowed him past
the Somerset man of war across Charles
River. All was still, as suited the hour
The ship was winding with the young food:
the waning moon just peered above a clear
horizon while from couple of lanterns in
the tower of the North Church, the beacon
streamed to the neighboring towns, a. fast
as light could travel. :sgey af..aasl
A little beyond Charleston Neck, Revere
was interrupted by two British officers on
horseback; but being we'll mounted, he
turned suddenly, and leading one of them
into a clay pond, escaped from the other BY
the road to Medford. As he passed on, he
walked the captain of the minute men of that
town, and continued to rouse almost every
house on his way to Lexington. ~
The troops had not advanced far, when
the firing Of guns and ringing of bells an
nounced that their expedition had been
heralded before them and Smith sent back
to demand a reinforcement. ss'.as ~
On the morning of the 10Th of April, be-
tween the hours of IL and |, the message
from Warren reached Adams and Hancock,
who OWNED at once the object Of the expe-
dition. Revere, therefore, and Dawes,
joined by Samuel Prescott, ga high son Of
liberty" from Concord, rode forward, call
ing up the inhabitants as they passed along,
till in L;neolp they fclf ;upo4h party of
British officers. Revere and Dawes were
seized and taken back to Lexington, where
they were released; but Prescott leaped over
a stone wall and galloped on for Concord.
There, at about two in the morning, a
peal from the belfry of the meeting house,
called the inhabitants of the place to their
town hall. They came forth, old and young,
with their irelocks, ready to make good the
resolute words Of their town debates. Among
the most alert was VIM. Emerson, the min
lister, with gun in hand, his powder horn
and pouch for balls slung over his shoulder.
BY his sermons and prayers he had SO hall
lowed the enthusiasm of his flock, that they
held the defence Of their liberties part of
their covenant with God; his presence, with
arms, proved his sincerity and strengthened
their sense of duty.
From daybreak to sunrise, the summons
ran from house to house through Acton
Express messengers and volleys from min
ute-men spread the alarm. How children
trembled as they were scared out of sleep
by the cries! How wives, with heaving
breasts, seconded their husbands! How the
countrymen forced suddenly to arms, with
out guides or counsellors, took instant
counsel Of their courage! The mighty cho-
rus of voices rose from the scattered farm
houses, and as it were from the very ashes
of the dead. Come. forth, champions Of
liberty, now free your country; protect your
sons and daughters, your wives and home-
steads; rescue the houses Of the God Of your
fathers, the franchises handed down from
your ancestors! Now, all is at stake; the
battle is for all!
Lexington, in ITS, may have had 700
inhabitants, forming one parish, and having
for their minister the learned and feryent
Jonas Clark, the bold inditer of patriotic
state papers that may yet be read on their
town records. In December, l772, they
had instructed their representative to de-
mand ga radical and lasting redress Of their
grievances, for not through their neglect
should the people be enslaved." A year
later they spurned the use Of tea. In 1774a
at various town meetings, they voted ''to
increase their stock of ammunition" ssto
encourage military discipline, and put them
selves in a posture Of defence against their
enemies" In December, they distributed
to ''the train band and alarm list" arms
and ammunition, and resolved ssto supply
the training soldiers with bayonets." ". I'd
At two in the morning, under the eye of
the minister, and of Hancock and Adams,
Lexington Common was alive with the min
ute-men; and not with them only, but the
old men also, who were exempt in case Of
immediate danger to the town. The roll
was called, and of militia and alarm men
about one hundred and thirty answered to
their names. The captain, John Parker,
ordered every one to load with powder and
ball, but to take care not to be the first to
fire. Messengers, sent to look for British
regulars, reported that there were no signs
of their approach. A watch was therefore