Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-11-30

4 year later they spurueI the uso Of
tea. In I774, at various town meetings,
they voted to increase ,heir stock Of ara
munition, TO encourage military d:sci-
pine, aud to put themselves in a posture
of defense against their enemies. In
December they distributed to the train
band and alarm list arms and ammani-
tion,' - and resolved to supply the training
soldiers with bayonets.
At two in the morning, under the eyes
Of the minister, and Of Hancock and
Adams, Lexington common was alive
with the minute men and not with
them only, but with many cid men, also
who were exempt, except in cases OF
immediate danger to the town, The roll
was called, aud out Of militia and alarm
men, about one hundred answered TO
their names. The captain, John Parker,
ordered every one 10 load with powder
and ball, bur take care not to be the
| first TO FIRE. Messengers sent to look
out for British regulars reported that
there were no signs Of their approach.
A watch was therefore set, and the com
pany dismissed with orders to come to-
gether al beat of drum. Some went to
their homes some to the tavern, near
the southeast corner Of the common.
Adams and Hancock, whose proscrip-
ton had already been diyulged, and
whose seizure was believed TO be inten-
ded, We're compelled by persuasion to re-
tire towards Woburn.
The last stars were vanishing from
sight-when the foremost party, led by
Pitcairn, a Major Of the Marines, was
discovered advancing quickly and in 81
lence. Alarm guns were fired and drums
beat. Less than seventy-perhaps less
than sixty-obeyed tile summons, and it,
sight of half as many unarmed men,
were paraded in two ranks, few rods
north of the meeting-house.
The British van, hearing the drum and
the alarm guns, halted to load the re-
naming companies came Up, and halted
to load and at half an hour before sun
rise, the advance party hurried forward
at double quick time, almost upon a run,
closely followed by the grenadiers. Pit
cairn rode in front, and when within five
or six rods Of the minute men, cried out
4" Disperse, ye villains; ye rebels, dis
perse lay down your arms and disperse? p
The main part Of the countrymen stood
motiouIess in the ranks, witnesses against
aggression; too few to resist, too brave to
fly. AT this, Pitcairn discharged a pistol,
aud with loud voice cried E" Fire l"--
The order was instantly followed, FIRST by
few guns which did no execution, and
then by heavy, close, aud deadly dis
charge Of musketry.
In the disparity Of numbers, the Com
mon was a field OF murder, not Of battle
Parker, therefore, ordered his men q
disperse. Then. and not till then, dii a
few OF them, on their own impulse return
the British fire. These random shots Of
fugitive or dying men did no harm, except
that Pitcairn's horse was perhaps grazea
and a private of the 10Th light infantry
was slightly touched on the les.
Jonas Parker. the strongest and bes
wrestler in Lexington, bad promised neg
er to run from the British troops aud b.
kept bis vow. A wound brought him {,
his knees. Having discharged his gan
he was preparing TO load il again, whes
D as sound a heart as ever throbbed lo
freedom was stiAed By = bayoaet. and L'
lay on the post which he took at the morn
ing's drum beat. So fell Isaac Muzzey
aud 20 died the aged Robert Monroe, thI
same who in 1853 bad been ensign a
Louisburgh. Johnalhau Harrington, ir
was struck in front Of hia house ou IL
north Of the Common, lis wife was q
the window when be fell. With the bloc
gushing from his breast be rose III he
sight, totiered, fell again, then eraWied o
his hands and knees towards his dwsilip.
she ran 70 meet him but only reAehe
him as be expired on tbs ihfeshold. q
i leb Harrington, wh0 bad gone into ID
4 meeting house for powder. yas shot - d
4 came our. Samuel Hadley and job
e Brown we're pursued ard killed after tbs
i had lelg the green Asaha Porter
n Woburn, who had been taken prisoner 3
81 tbe march, endeav0Fiug 70 eseape, vi
= shot within a fsu rods Of the Commo
a.. Seven Of the men u Lexington weI
killed nine wounded s-=a quarter "a
"A Of those who stood In arns % tie gree
d These are tbs village beroes sbo We
a more than of noble bi3od, pFoyiag
ftss~ rs~tt 4t.ssf sts.ag ssssp a. easss FL "a