Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-12-06
First Battle of the Revolution

| ne lollOWlnB description OF the battle
of Lexington is from Bancroft's seventh
volume of the History of the United
States:
On the afternoon Of the 18th of April,
the day on which the Provincial Congress
of Massachusetts, adjourned, Gen. Gage
took the light infantry and grenadiers off
duty, and secretly prepared an expedition
to destroy the colonys stores at Concord
But the attempt had for several days been
expected; strict watch had been kept;
and signals were connected to announce
the first movements of troops for the
country. Samuel Adams and Hancock,
who had not left Lexington for Philadel-
phia, received timely message from
Warren, and in consequence, the Com
mittee of Safety removed part of the
public stores end secreted the cannon.
On Tuesday, the 18th, ten or more SER
geants in disguise dispersed themselves
through Cambridge and farther west, to
intercept all communication. In the fol-
lowing night, the grenadiers and light in
fantry, not less than eight hundred in
number, the flower Of the army at Bos-
. ton, commanded by the incompetent
Lieutenant Colonel 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 wet
marshes, that are now covered by state
ly town, they took the road through West
Cambridge to Concord.
"They will miss their aim" said one
of the party who observed their depart
urc. "What aim?" asked Lord Percy,
who overheard the remark. "Why, the
cannon, at Concord" !" was the answer
Percy hastencd to Gage, who instantly
directed that no one should be suffered to
leave the town. But Warren had already
at ten o'clock dispatched William DAVIS
through Roxbury to Lexington, and at
the same time desired Paul Revere to set
off by tho way of Charlestown. Revere
stopped only to engage friend to raise
the concerted signals. and five minutes
before the sentinels got orders to prevent
it, two friends rowed him past the Sum
merSet 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 the
horizon; while from couple of lanterns
in the tower of tho North Church, the
beacon streamed to the neighboring town
as fast as light could travel. A little be-
yond Charleston Neck Revere was inter
cepted by two British officers on horse
back, but being himself well mounted, he
turned suddenly, and leading one of them
into clay pond, he 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 al
most every house on the way to Lexing-
ton. The troops had not advanced far,
when the firing of guns and the ringing
of bells announced that their expedition
had been heralded before them; and Smith
sent back to deman reinforcement.
On the morning of the 10Th of April,
between the hours Of twelve and one, the
message of Warren reached Adams and
Hancock, who OWNED at once the object
of the expedition. Revere, therefore, and
Dawes, joined by Samuel Prescott, a
"high son ofliberty" from Concord, rode
forward, calling up the inhabitants as
they passed along, till in Lincoln they
fell upon party of British officers. Re.
we're and DAVIS were seized and taken back
to Lexington, where they were released /;
but Prescott leaped over a low stone wall
and galloped on for Concord.
There, at about two in the morning, n
peal from the bofry of the meeting house
called the inhabitants of the place to their
town hall. They came forth, old and
young with their frelocks ready to make
good the resolute words of their town de-
bate. Among the most alert was Will
liam Emerson, the minister with gun in
hand, his powder horn, and pouch for
balls, slung over his shoulder. BY his
sermons and prayers, he had so hallowed
the enthusiasm of his flock that they held
the defense OF their liberties q part of
their covenant with God; his presence
with arms proved his sincerity and siren
thened their sense of duty. From day
break to sunrise the summons ran from
house to house through Acton-Express
messengers and volleys from minute men
spread the alarm.
Lexington, in IT'S, may have had 700
inhabitants. forming one parish, and hav-
ing for their minister the learned and fer
vent James Clark, the bold inditor of
patriotic papers that may yet be read on
their town records. In December, I772,
they had instructed their representatives
to demand radical redress for their
grievances, for mot through their neg
: lect should they be cnsaved," A year
later they spurned the use of tea. In II
"a, at various town meetings, they voted
to increase their stock of ammunition, "to
encourage military discipline, and to put
themselves in posture of defense against
their enemies" In December they dis
tributed to 1.-THE train band and alarm
} list arms and amunition," and resolved
to supply the training soldiers with bay
onets.
At two in the morning. under the eyes
, of the minister, and of Hancock and Ad-
ans, Lexington Common was alive with
the minute men; and not with them only
but with many old men also, who were
exempt, except in immediate danger to
the town. The roll was called, and out
of militia and alarm men, about one hum
dred answered to their names. The Cap
. tain Jobn D.,ln a,1aral ava,,, noo -