The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-29

selves 10 tach otncr 10 C0inD niauIully Or
their birthright inheritance Of freedom
There they now stood side by side, under the
provincial banner, with arms in their hands,
silent and fearless willing to fight for their
privileges. scrupuIous not to begin civil war,
and as yet unsusplclous OF immediate danger.
The ground on which they trod was the altar
OF freedom, aud they were 10 furnish its vic,
tins.
The British van, hearing the drum and
the alarm guns, halted to load. The remain.
lrg companies came up; aud, at half an hour
before sunrise the advance party hurried for
ward at double quick time. almost upon
run, closely followed by the grcnadicrs.
p.seaira ,yode ia !snai.. .nc4s vl.ep witk.s Gsa-
or six rods of the minute men. cried out
Disperse, ye villains ye rebels. disperse !;
lay down your arms why don't you lay
down your arms and dispcrse!' The main
part of the countrymen stood motonlcss in
the ranks, witnesses against aggression too
few to resist, too brave to fly. AT this Pit
carn discharged pistol aud with a loud
voice cried. Fire" The order was instant
ly followed, first by few guns. which did
no execution, and then by heavy, close and
deadly discharge OF musketry.
In the disparity Of numbers, the Common
was field OF murder, not Of battle Parker.
therefore, ordered his men TO dispcrse. Then,
and not till thcn did few of them on their
own impulse, return the British fire These
random shots OF tugitlvcs or dying men did
no harm, except that Pitcairns horse was
perhaps grazed, and Il private Of the 10Th
light infantry was toacbei slightly in The
leg.
Jonas Parker, the strongest and best
wrestler in Lexington, had promised never
to run from British troops, and lac kept his
vow. Awound brought him upon his knees.
Having discharged hs gun, he was prcpar-
ing to load it again, when a. sound a heart
rs ever throbbed for freedom was stiled By
a bayonet, and he lay on the post which he
took at the mornings drum beat. SO icll
Isaac Muz1 y, and so died the aged Robert
Munroe, the same who In l15S had been an
ensign at l,ouisburgh; Jonathan Harrington,
jr., was struck in iron. Of his own house on
the north side of The Common. His wife
was at the window Us he fell With the
blood gushing from his breast, Lc rose in her
sight, toitered fell again, then crawlej On
his hands AID knees towards his dwelling
she ran to meet him, but ouly reached him
as be expired IN their threshold Caleb
Harrington, who had gone to the meeting
house Tor powder, was shot a. he came out.
samuel Ilailcy aud John Blown were pur.
sued and killed after they lad left the green.
Asahel Porter, Of Woburn, who had bcen
taken prisoner by the British on the march
eudeav0rng to escape, was shot within lew
rods Of the Common.
Day came in all the beauty oi an early
spring Ihc trees we're budiing. the grass
growing rank.y fail month before the tmc
the blue bird and the robin gladiening the
genial season, and ca Hing lorlh thl beams Of
the sun With on that morning shone aith
the warmth Of Summer but distress aEl
horror gathered over the inhabitants of the
peac. lul town There ou the green. lay Ia
death tpc gray haired aud ih' young thl
grassy iic.d was rod "wjti tho inhoccnt blood
Of their brethren slain, ct!inR ulto COD lgr
vengeauoe isom i1e ground.
seven ol the meb Of lexington wcrc killed /;
niue wound d, quarter part o. those "hO
stood ~ arms On the Fr en. Ibt4e are The
village heroes, wbp were more than oi noble
blood, proving by the.r spIit that they were
oi q race diyine. Incy gage Their hyeS Ia
testimony 10 he rights oi niaDalBd, D@Jnealb-
Jog to their country IN ASSURANCE of saccess
III TIE Bt lhly s'rugg,ie they bogan IBcir
naHea are held in grateful rem nlrance,
and the cxpaHdpg nniiions o. their county.
le3 ieaea and multiply tbei praise from
generation ~ gtst"rail',8 urY fulfilled
thoir da'y not from the accidental impglse
o' a ni)eYeD, their cotton was tn slowly
rifen.d frait OF provd -nct and Of time.
The light that bel tbsm OF was anDired OF
rave ffsa the Whole history of tie race
from tn trad iiots % tho Hebrew ~ tha
gray 81 tiie worlds UUfnihg frofn tn bo-
ro.s ard .agrs Of repaid ca1 Gfeece ard
X sne lfom The "xsmpbe OF Him who lad
down BIZ iie nn tie cfJsz. iD' the life oi human.
i'y from tt religion. cFesl which pro.
claimed thp diY.be presence ~ man, and Of
this truth a. ~ s liit-boat, h0a'ci the iibeT
ties ~ nations oysf tic dark food II III
middle ages from tie Customs u the Ger
mars Transmitted 0ut q thelr forests ~ ths
cpnoclls u Saxon Ens and from the burb-
.n2 faith and courage q Martin ia'ber
from frost IN The gnlyg.s.i'y u Cod = soy
cr,1zu'y as taught by Pal Il Iar.ns. ami
A1gus'ine hfeugh GAVIN sLd the divine
II Ma tngisI,d from i,.e asengny fierce
r.+s u he Puritans who da-'ed lDwn tn
ml'r. 90 'he ruifs ~ the thrDse from the
bod di at, and creative ssf A.-srtjou of the
early tmgrsnts 10 Msszscha@t;s from tn
Sta,.>ncu WHO made AMI tle pa1osDpbSr-
who exf,q'd~j the revolution of i-ngiand
from tn iiDsrsl 'pirit and analyzsg 'nqnis'.
tiveness Of ,se eigh,eroth ontury from ,he
cloud Il s,ns@>ss oi all ages g. the reality
aud rishifglne~ Of human ireriom. A.! the
centuris. boSei th1nyives from tn rsos.ss
II -. e.c,ri.r - chlsH ir tL....r as..rifee