The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-05-05
The Concord Fight.

The British, somewhat scattered in
small groups on the bridge and on the
west bank Of the river, noticing the
advance of the Americans, immedi-
ately formed and crossed to the east
bank, taking up some of the planks Of
the bridge as they passed over, The
soldiers under Captain Lawrie, who
had previously retired to the hill,
moved forward and joined their com.
panions on the right bank Of the riv-
er. The attempt Of the British to
dismanilo tho bridge attracted she nj.
tention Of Major Buttrick as the
Americans were advancing, 1.-TWO and
two, and turning the corner of the
crOss-road." " He demonstrated against
the act in loud and emphatic tone.
and ordered his men to march in a
quick step. Thereupon the enemy
desisted from the destruction. They
became alarmed at the menacing
movement of the Americans and ii
may have occurred to them at the
time that whatever distractions were
placed in the way Of the Americans
would leopard the safety Of Captain
Parsons detachment
1t was, according to Captain Da-
vid Brown, between nine and ten
of the clock in the forenoon The
British fired two or three guns in
quick succession. These were pre-
concerted signal-guns for the distant
de;achments of the enemy to return
at once. When the Americans ar
rived within ten or fifteen rods of the
bridge, and were rapidly moving for
ward, one ST the regulars, a sharp
shooter, stepped from the ranks and
discharged his musket, manifestly
aimed at Major Buttrick or Colonel
Robinson, the ball from which, pass
ing under the arm of the latter, slight.
ly wounded Luther Blanchard, the
ffer Of the Acton company, in the
side, and Jonas Brown, one of the
Concord minute-men. This gun was
Immediately followed by a volley,
which instantly killed Captain Isaac
Davis and private 4 bner Hosmer, of
Acton, a ball passing through the
heart Of the former, and another
through the head of the latter, ana
slightly wounding Ezekiel Davis, a
brother Of Captain Davis, ball pass
ing throueh his hat and grazing his
bead. When be saw that his fifer
was wounded, Captain Davis impul-
sively stepped to the wall by the road
and was in the act of sighting his gun,
when be was bit by the enemy's shot.
He sprang two or three feet in the
air. fell on the north side of the wall,
and expired without uttering word.
Joshua Brooks, of Lincoln, was struck
with ball that cut through his hat
and drew blood on bis forehead. 1t
appeared as if be had been cut with
q knife and 81 concluded, . said Pri-
vate Baker, "lhat the British were
firing jackknives."
Major Buttrick, then in front Of
Captain Browns company, instantly
jumped from the ground, and patty
turning to his men, impetuously ex-
claimed, "Fire, fellow-soldiers for
Gods sake, Ere p discharging hisown
gun at the same moment. Captain
Brown, who never before nor after
used a profane word, exclaimed,
"God damn them, they are firing
balls Fire, Ten, fire y drew up his
own musket, deliberately aimed, and
fred. One ofthe dead British SOL
diers. buried near the old monument,
was believed to have been the result
of that shot. Major Buttrick's order
ran along the line of militia and min
ute-men, the word Fire :" Fire !"
came from a hundred lips. and q gen
eral discharge instantly followed from
the Americans. They fired as they
stood, and over each others heads.
The fusillade continued for few min
utes only, when the British broke and
fed in great alarm and confusion.
Noah Parkhurst, one of the Lincoln
men, said to one Of his comrades,
Now the war has begun. and no one
knows when it will end !"
The fire of the Americans was de-
struetive. Two British soldiers were
instantly killed -Four officers, Lieu
tenants Gould, Hall, Sunderland. and
Kelly, and sergeant and six pri-
Yates, were reported to have been
wounded at the same time /. has
never been accurately ascertained