The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-01
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, MAY l. 1878.

If for assistance, and fell again. Rising
once more on his hands and knees, b,
erawled across the road toward his dwell
ing She ran to meet him at the door
but il was to see him expire at her feet
Monroe was the standard-bearer Of hi'
company at the capture Of Louisburg
Caleb Harrington was killed as he was
running from the meeting house, after re.
plenishing his stock of powder; Samuel
Hadley and John Brown, after they had
left the common; Asahel Porter, Of Wo-
burn, who had been taken prisoner by the
British, as he was endeavoring to escape.
The British suffered but little, having only
two wounded. Some Of the militia re-
treated towards Bedford, and others-the
larger portion--across a swamp to rising
ground north Of the common. The Brit
ish troops formed on the common, and
after firing volley, gave three huzzas in
token of their victory. Soon after, the
remainder of the troops under Colonel
Smith Joined Major pitcaIrn's detachment,
and the whole force marched towards Con.
cord without further interruption.
The town Of Concord lies between two
hills that command It entirely Accord
ing to description published 10 1775.
"The town Is large, and contains church,
jail, and courthouse; but the houses are
not close together, but in little groups. -
The road from Lexington entered Con.
cord from the southeast, along the side Of
a hill which lies to the right Of it. The
top forms plain, which commands view
Of the town, and on which was erected the
liberty pole. The Concord river flows, in
a winding direction, on the northerly and
westerly side Of the town, about half a
nile from Its centre, Two bridges crossed
this riyer--one called the Old South
Bridge, tie other, beyond the Rev. VII.
liam EmeHon's, called the Old North
Bridge. The road over the North Bridge
led 10 the house of Colonel james Barrett
about a mile and half beyond.
At two O'Clock in the morning the quiet
little community of Concord were aroused
/ by the ringing Of the church bell. The
/ prominent citizens and military officers
assembled for consultation. Messengers
were sent to Lexington for tidings; the
militia were formed on the common. near
the Westinghouse and the residents
worked zealously in the removal Of the
military stores to places Of greater safety.
I A messenger soon arrived with the alarm.
ing news that the British had fred upon
his countrymen at Lexington, and were
then marching to Concord. A portion Of
the minute men aud militia marched down
the Lexington road till they saw the Brit
ish about two miles from the town, and
returned with the intelligence that the
British outnumbered the American three
fold. They then took possession of an
eminence back of the town, and in two
battalions They had scarcely done so
before the British were seen advancing
quickly, at the distance Of quarter of a
mile The militia then retired, over to
the North Bridge, to an eminence about a
mile from the centre Of the town.
The British entered Concord in two di.
visions; one by the main road, and the
other on the hill north of it. The main
body of the troops remained in the centre
of the town. Captain Parsons, with two
hundred men, was sent to hold the. North
Bridge and to destroy stores. He placed
one hundred men, under Captain Laurie,
at the bridge, and with the balance of his
detachment he proceeded to Colonel Bar
rett's house to destroy the stores collected
there. Captain Pole, with another detach.
ment, was dispatched to the South Bridge
for a like purpose, So carefully had the
inhabitants concealed the stores that the
British met with only partial success in
the work Of destruction In the centre Of
the town they destroyed quantity of
-four, knocked off the trunnions Of three
iron cannon, and burned lot Of new car
riage wheels, and several barrels of wooden
trenchers and spoons; besides cutting down
the liberty-pole, and setting the court
house on FIRE.
During the two hours in which the
British had occupied Concord, the minute
men from adjoining towns had been arriy-
ing upon the eminence mile from the
North Bridge, till they aggregated four
hundred and fifty in number From this
point the operations of the British were
easily visible, and number Of fires were
seen in the centre Of the town. Appre-
tensions began to be felt for its safety,
and consultation was held by the officers
and prominent citizens; the result Of which
was, a determination to dislodge the guard
at North Bridge. Colonel Barrett, there
fore, ordered the militia to march to it,
and to pass it, but not to fire unless they
were fred upon.
About ten o'clock in the morning, the
militia to the number Of three hundred,
arrived near the river, marching in double
file and with trailed arms The British
guard, on their approach, retired over the
bridge to the east side Of the river, and
began to take up the plauks Of the bridge.
When the militia were within few rods
Of the bridge, the British began to FIRE
upon them, killing Captain Davis and an
other man upon the spot, and wounding