The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-01
Distoriral,
From POfter's american Monthly.
First Battles of the Revolution.
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.

APRIL 10Th, 1775-a day never to b
forgotten by the citizens of the Unite,
States, but to be especially commemorate,
as the Centennial anniversary comes t,
recall the glorious deeds of the gloriou
little band Of minute-men and militia, who
one hundred years ago, made it rOd-let
ter day in the American calendar. Lon.
had the clouds been lowering-thc thun
der had rumbled, the lightning played o'e
the gloomy heavens, and now the storm
burst which was not to clear away unit
the new nation should be born-the re
public brought forth, and given fair tar
in the race for front place among th,
peoples of the earth.
The following detailed narrative, b,
Barnwell X. Grant, Of the events whicl
fairly opened the Revolutionary War, vii
be read with interest.
At the beginning of the year 1875, tn,
patriots of Massachusetts had fully de
termined to resist the offensive acts o.
Parliament, and were entirely confident o
their ability to maintain their ground
Yet the fear was expressed, that the colony
smarting under its accumulated wrongs
might oyerstep the line of prudence, ant
rashly rush into civil war Hence thu
leading patriots were desirous, that when Q
collision did take place, the British, should
be the aggressors. They hoped, by such 4
policy, to secure the cooperation of the
other colonies in the trial which they fell
was coming.
General Gage soon put this policy to a
severe test. Tho committees Of Safety
and Supplies Of the Provincial Congress,
had deposited large quantities of warlike
stores at Concord, under the care of Col
james Barrett. As early as March il
was reported that General Gage had de
termned to destroy them; and q guard
was accordingly placed over them. Thi.
precautiou was made necessary by the
movements of the British commander
Officers were sent in disguise to make
sketches of the woods leading to Concord
and other towns, and bodies of troop:
occasionally marched into the country
doing damage by throwing down stone
walls, and committing other depredations
Meanwhile the newspapers of April 4th
conveyed the intelligence that reinforce.
ments were on their way to Boston, and
that Generals Howe, Clinton, and Bur.
goyne were ordered to join General Gage
These tidings greatly elated the confident
loyalists, but the friends of liberty declared
themselves ready for the impending strug.
gle. The Provincial Congress adopted
energetic measures to meet the crisis.
Regulations were adopted for establishing
an army; circular was sent to the com.
mittees of Correspondence, recommending
them to see that the militia and "minuto.
men were in the best condition for de.
fence; aud on the 18th of April, after
appointing day of fasting and prayer, it
adjourned to May 10th. The committees
Of Safety and Supplies at once busted
themselves in preparations for immediate
hostilities train of artillery was estab-
blished, cannon were removed to places Of
security, cartridges were manufactured
and military supplies were distributed.
These preparations were well known to the
British General, who made strenuous exer
tlons for the purchase of camp supplies,
but found himself anticipated at every
step BY the patriots. Things were gradu.
ally assuming more hostile aspect, ill it
only needed spark to set the whole
continent in fame.
BY the middle of April, General Gage
had about foar thousand troops at his
command ; and he determined upon send
ing secret expedition for the destruction
of the stores collected at Concord-a
measure which was approved neither by
his council nor his officers. On the fif.
teenth of April the grenadiers and light
infantry were relieved from duty, under
the pretence of learning new military
exercise, and at night the boats Of the
transports were moored under the sterps
of the men-of-war. These suspicious move
ments were eagerly observed by the patriots,
and DIR. Warren communicated intelligence
of them to Hancock and Adams, who
were then at the house of Rev. Jonas
Clark, in Lexington. The Committee of
Safety were thus warned of the necessity
for taking additional measures to protect
the stores at Concord and on the 18th.
they ordered cannon to be secreted, aud
some Of the stores removed to Groton and
Sudbury,
On the next day, April 18th, General
Gage stationed parties of officers on the
roads leading from Boston, to prevent in.
formation of his movements, that night,
from reaching the country. Some of these
dined that day at Cambridge. On the
same day the Committees Of Safety and
Supplies were holding session at wether-
by's tavern, in Menotomy now West
Cambridge. Three Of the membcrs--Mr.
Gerry, and Cclonels 0rne and I.ee---re-