The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-19
OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION.
CONCORD. Mass, April Is, 1875.
BY this rude bridge that crossed the food.
Their flag 10 AprIl's breeze unfuried,
Here once the 0mbAttlcd faFmo RI stood

BY this rude bridge that crossed the food
Their flag 10 AprIs breeze unfured,
Ana 1Sed the snot heard round me world.
II Is only natural, perhaps, that hundred years
after the American Revolution Lexington and
Concord should oe ngnting she frat battle or the
war over again. Whatever pains we may take to
secure the truth OF history IL 10 never sure. 1t
was a great point with our ancestors that tue war
for Independence should begin as q war OF resist
ance and this being the case IL becomes a grave
and important question with us who nred that
first shot, which LORD Chatham predicted would
separate the two countries. On the part OF the
BRUSH many blows were struck before Ine
cruel massacre at Lexington aroused the
American people to action; but the blows were
not returned TIL that April morning when "a
nock OF Yankees" met the dover OF the British
army at Concord Bridge. All this Is now q mooted
point; but as to the iact think there Is toe
amplest testimony. One day those "embattleo
farmersr fought against the King, and they swofe
10 the occurrences the next before the Kings JUS
tees OF the peace. At tnat time Lexington I'D
not claim to have returned Major Pltcairn's Gre.
while Concord boldly avowed the resistance whisA
gave the Old North Bridge the 1rst place In Ame-
lean history. Mr. Edward Everett Hale tells u
that when New England historian related 70
Henry Clay the story OF the dispositions wnbn
followed the battles OF the 18th OF April 17TS, TIE
great orator and statesman was much amused
and said. "Tell me that again. II somehow
seems necessary to tell 1t once more alter the
lapse OF 100 years, for notwithstandiug the pains
that we're taken to secure the truth OF hstoI.
Lexington and Concord are far from agreeing
about it to-day. Each Is getting mp Q celebration
ofits own, aud there Is almost as niue excitemnt
over 1t as when IL was learned from Paul kevte
and Ebenezer Dorr and Or. samuel Prescott that
Lieutenant Colonel Smiths column had been f,r-
RED over from Boston to Phipp's farm, In CEtl-
bridge, during the night, and was on the wayio
destroy the provincial stores az Concord. IL IL 70
very pretty quarrel as II stands and has been
the source OF some bright wit as well as warn
controversy. MAJOR Pitcalrn's unfortunate pistol
shot on Lexington Common led to the nrst loss u
life In the American Revolution. The volley fired
By the British In that historic town killed eight Or
the patriots and wounded many others, but thee
was no resistance, and the column pressed on 10
Concord. Here Smltn's force was met by TIE
"Minute Menu from Acton and other nelgbbvffng
towns, the determination OF Revere 70
-spread the alarm
Through every Middesex village and farm
For the country folks 10 be up aud arm
having been accomplished far and vice. and the
two men killed on the spot where the new statue
has been erected we're both Acton men. This led
TO the famous toast at the Union celebration
quarter OF a century ago, proposed by an.,AQtou
man ;-"Concord hght-Concord gave ths ground
an lcton furnished the men," But as between
Lexington and concord il has come 10 0t no
JOKING matter, though the TACT that they should
be quarreInR over the glories OF the
past ID their present determined way Is
in itself Joke. the whole point az issue being At