The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-09-07
BzDFoRD, MASSACHUSETTS,,
Aug. 28th, 1871.
EDITORS OTTUMWA COURIER:


BzDFoRD, MASSACHUSETTS,, !
Aug. 28th, 1871.
EDITORS OTTUMwA COURIER:
am now, as you see,
on classic ground, in fact surrounded
oy the first battle.fields of the Revo.
luton. Bunker Hill is IL, Lexing-
ton B and Concord 8 miles distant
from the place where am visiting.
These names have, it is true, long
been household words, and it would
be poor compliment to the intelji-
gence and patriotism Of your readers
to suppose any one of them ignorant
OF the great events which were enao.
ted hereabouts in 1775, although
comparatively few have probably
stood on the ground these events
have consecrated. Other battle
fields of the Republic there are to
which our countrymen will make
pilgr,mages, and drop tears On the
graves OF the brave and patriotic,
who there gave their lives for their
country; still, I doubt if the time
will over come when American citi-
zens will cease to regard with inter-
est and veneration the spots where
the first stand for freedom was made
and the first patriotic blood was
shed. The near approach Of the first
centennial of our national existence
will not be calculated to lessen, but
most certainly will intensity the in
terest which has always clustered
around these localities. have be.
fore me a sheet giving comtempora.
neous accounts of the battles of the
10th of April, IT'S, and the names Of
the 40 who fell, each being placed
under q coffin. The recapitulation
is briefly as follows: On the evening
Of April 18th, 1775, about 800 Brit
ish Regulars started from the bot
tom of Boston common, crossed
Charles River and pushed rapidly
for Concord, 20 miles west, for the
purpose of destroying some stores,
which had been collected there.
The country was speedily aroused,
and people along the line OF march,
with such arms as they could hastily
catch up, focked together to watch
the suspicious movement. The col.
umn reached Lexington, IL miles
from Boston, shortly after daylight,
Of the 18th, marching up Main St.
they came in sight Of about loo Mill
tia, collected on the common in front
of the meeting house. The officer in
command called them q pack of id
rebels, and ordered them to lay down
their arms and dispense. Not mani
testing any great degree of alacrity
in obeying this polite request, but,
on the contrary, receiving it with in.
sulting huzzas, the troops fired and
killed 8 and wounded 8. One of the
killed standing at the moment in the
door of his house, q building still
standing, 149 years old. After this
the troops continued their march to
Concord. miles from Lexington,
burning buildings and pillaging as
they proceeded. They pass . d
through, and about mile west of the
village of Concord to bridge over
Concord River, q narrow but deep
stream, where the Militia had CON-
centrated in larger force, and where
The first effective stand against Brit
lisa tyranny was made. The Militia
occupied the west and the British
The sast bank of the stream. The
hrst III, of the British killed two.
The f1re vas returned with such pre-
cision and effect that the enemy soon
commenced heir retreat to Licking
ton, when q brief stand to collect
their dead and wounded was made,
after which they continued on to-
wards Charlestown. Meeting q rein.
torcement of 1000 men with two
field pieces, under LORD Percy, they
tried to make another stsnd but the
Militia now fairly swarned along
the line of march, and from behind
every stone wall, hedge and tree came
whizzing a rebel bullet, which bullet
was pretty sure to bring down red
coat, and they soon found it such hot
work, that in the speediest possible
time they put Bunker Hill between
them and the enraged provinciaIs
and themselves under the protection
of the guns of His Majesty's Man Of
War, the Somerset, "a guns.
lshouldlike much, Messrs. Editors, 10
take you in cousin Davis buggy, one
Of these pleasant mornings over to
Concord. 1t is only three miles. We
will drive to the centre of the pretty
village, and stop q few moments in
front of the old Court House, and
look ut q granite monument 18 or 20
feet high, erected at cost of $500,
in memory Of the 30 Concord men
who gave their lives to their country
in the late rebellion. You may read
their names if you please. They are
plainly engraved there, and it is very
proper that there they should remain
forever. And now we will take the
road sharp to the right and drive q
mile west to the battlefield Of TO-
The gate is open and we drive thro'
an avenue OF pines some six rods from
the road, and come to the banks of
Concord river the precise locality of
Tho battle. Read the account Of the
battle, engraved on the monument,
and then sit down on the stone wall
and contemplate the scene awhile
How quiet it is now! The bridge is
gone, but you see plainly where it
was. The river is yet here, the same
likely as 100 years ago. You can
get into one OF the boats moored
close by and take row If you like
Ifnot, Concord is famous as the home
OF many eminent literary men, and
we will drive around q little and
\ oh Il, 20 L