Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-20

First Battle Of the Revolution.

AASN
The following description of the battle of
Lexington i from Baucroft'S seventh volume
the history Of the Uuited States
On the afternoon of the 18th of April. the
lr o. which the Provincial Congress of Mas
q.lassctrs adjourned, General Gage took the
.ht infantry and grpnadiers of duty, and
III secretly prepared an expedition to destroy the
r1onyS stores at Concord. Bnt the attempt
bad for several days nten expected a strict
watch had hcen kept aud signals were con-
rocted to Announce the first movements Of
-oops for the country. Samuel Adams and
Hancock, who had not vet left Lexington for
NPbiiadeIphia, received timely message from
4 Warren, and in consequence, the Committee Of
>tety removed a part OF the public stores and
ayreled the cannon.
VI On 1nesday, the IS;h,ten or more sergcants
I'll IN Disguise Dispersed themselves through Cam
III ridge and further west, 20 interrupt all com
unaicatjonS. In the following night, the gren-
rs audlight infantry, not IS than eight
aagl in number, the flower Of the army at
b'n commanded by the incompetent Lieut..
to Smith, crossed in the boats Of the transport
'S from the foot of the Common to East
m9Gd-P. There they received a days pro-
5nS and uear midnight, after wadiug wet
R'rShpS, that are now covered Ivy a stately
To they took the road through West Cam
-e to Concord.
They will miss their aim" said one Of the
Dirty who observed their departure What
Il N 2 asked Lord Percy, who overheard the
., h.,
H tha answer. Percy hastened 10 Gage, who in.
SANITY directed that no one should ne suffer
1 ii to leave the town But Warren bad al
rldyat ten O'Clock, dispatched William Dawes
through RoXhury to Lexington, and at the
ame time desired Pant Revere to set off By
y lie way Of ChnrleSiown Revere stopped only
h 10 engage n friend TO raise the concerted sig
1 pals, and five minutes before the SeutinelS got
Il @orlsrs 10 prevent it, TWO friends rOwed him
I raN the Summer:ett man-Ot-war across Charles
aTer All was StlIl as suted the hour. The
= Zip was winding with The young food the
ming moon Just peered above the horizon
| a' ron Il Couple of lduterns in the tower Of
nth Church. the beacon streamed TO the
hb0riug town rs fast az light could travel
.'Ie beyond CharleStown Neck Revere was
srppted by two British officers on horse
Y l,s, hnt being himself well mounted he turn-
suddenly aud leading one of them INTO
ly pond be escaped from the other by the
~ 70 Medford As he passed on, he walked
'e captain Of the minute men of that town,
-A continued to rouse almost every house on
,s way to lexington The troops had not
-ated far when the firing of guns and the
S.g Of bells announced that their eXpedi-
'a haa been heraIdrd before them; and smith
7.. pack 10 dcmaud a reinforcement
OA the morning Of the 18th Of April, be-
'''" 'ae hours OF twelve and ore the message
Warren reached .,,ano and Hancock. who
'.'ed al once the object Of the expedition
were therefore aud Dawes, Joined 10y Samuel
.s>eo'l, "a high son OF liberty from Concord
'e Toward, calling MP the inhabitants IS
,a'y passed along, till in Lincoln they fell up
party Of British officers. Revere and
ives Were seized and taken back to Lexing
""eFe they were released hnt Prescott
i,Sl ~ over low stone wall, aud gaIloped on
Concord
IaeEe at about two in the morning, a pea
'Di ,la oeifry of the meeting house called
. Nnaoltants Of the place to their town hall.
a'! came forth, old aud young, with their
slocAs. ready to make good the resolu
,.es O' Their town debate Among the most
~ ,s was William Emerson, with his gun in
,au, nS powder horn and pouch for balls
'"S over his shoulder BY his sermons and
.3Sfs, he had so halIowed the enthusiasm of
,oa - aocN that they held the defence of their
sa''y aS part Of their religion, aud his pre-
pt5o ,.s g',a arms proved his sincerity and siren
NJ Ds,eu IAeIr sense of duty. From day break
su"'Se The summons ran from house to
~ % HFongh Acton Express messengers
'o!Ieys from minute men spread the alarm.
,b;, bh;e1lagton, in l775, may have had 700 in
'G'al's, forming oae parish, and having for
wi minister the learned aud feryid James