The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-15
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY APRIL Is

was riding nome from Sudbury. Although wounded
10 MS side ne managed 10 reach Mrs. Jonathan
Heywood's house, where his wouno was hastily
dressed BY Mrs Haywood and her son Abel. q lad
then, but subsequently prominent physician in
Concord. On the approach OF the soldiers Mrs.
I Haywood and her son gathered all the family
silver aud threw IL into the well and then sought
/ place Of greater safety. Presco ran up stairs
and concealed himself IN casK in dark place
behind one 81 those enormous chimneys which
hail died every house in those days. lie heard the
redcoats uttering bitter threats. they unsuc-
cessiully searched for him. la their disappont-
ment they smashed the windows OF tue house.
Abel was a brother OF samuel Prescott, who
brought the nrst news OF the British early in the
morning, and they were a pair OF noble brothers.
RETREAT OF THE BRITISH.
The British lett the village at twelve O'Clock.
I They retreated In The same order they entered,
the infantry on the ridge of tae nil on their left
i and the grenadiers and marines on the road, but
with more numerous banking parties, and thrown
out turner rom the main body. They evidently
ielt that the return on the homestretch was to be
hazardous one, ana Colonel smith acted with
caution. Toe whole country had been aroused
and 1t seemed as II 'men came down from the
cIouds.n
After the first conflict there was no milf
tary order with the Americans. They be-
came almost at one blow independent people
on the pursuit each man was MS own general
chose his own time, his own position and
his own mode OF attack. This was
new style OF fighting to most OF the
British earfully telling their morale, and ter
riby effective and destructive. on arriving at
Merriam's Corner. the end OF the ridge, at the
junction OF the Bedford ana Boston roads, the
retreating enemy were met by rhe Americans
VINO had crossed over the Great Fields or Meadows
rom the North Bridge and the minute men who
had just arrived from Reading. under the com
mand or MAJOR John Brooks, afterward Governor
OF Massachusetts. These patriots were on their
way to Concord when the ball opened When the
alarm reached Reading the Rev. Edmund Foster
ran directly TO Major Brooks aud asked, "Are you
going TO Concord, ana when +" immediately
was the reply. With the militia company OF Read.
ing under Captain Bachelor, they started. They
left their horses in Bedford and marched TO Mer.
RAMS corner, and arrived there shortly before
the British banking parties came over the hll.
There they united with tue men fresh from the
fight, flushed with excitement and the smoke OF
battle. General Ebenezer Bridge, OF Chelmsford,
with lew men from BEDFORD was also there and
Colonel William Thompson, with q company OF mi.
ltra from Berca, added their strength 10 the
others. There company from East
Sudbury in time Tor the second conflict. On came
the enemy down the road ana over the hill, and
sharp and serious engagement was fought there.
Ii was thus described by Foster:-
Before we came to Merriams Hill we discovered the
enemys hank guard Of about ei-hty hundred men,
wn9 on the Ietres rom Sonc0Td sept he hesn q ne
ami the Americans al tna time were equally DIS,
. that pace me Americans made malt The British
marched down the MI with very slow but STEADY
could be heard; silence reigned on 6oih sides Al
passed small bridge near the corner. hey faced
hey I and no 9ae 70 my ur mSs In
Z ica {
He distance from each other ~ ae rSsd near ns
Ensign Lester.
HARDY's HILL FIGHT.
There was another spirited affair on Hardys
HILL short distance beyond, where one OF the
Sudbury companies. Captain Cudworth, came up
and vigorously attacked the enemy. Colonel John
Ford, OF Chelmsford. was also conspicuous In this
ngnt. He had been a ranger in the French wars,
aud knew now 10 handle hts rine.
There was also severe action below the WELL
known tavern with the quaint swinging sign OF
those days, with a picture OF an Indian on one
i side aud OF King George on the other, aiterward
i known as the BROOKS Tavern, with the efngy Of
/ King George changed to that OF General Washing
\ ton. Foster described TINS conflict a very
severe one to the British. There was "a Cd al Q
distance which appeared TO lie on near the road
wnere tue enemy must pass many leaped over
the walls and ran Tor that wood" Tney arrived
lust in time 10 meet the enemy. There was on the
4 opposite side OF the road young growth OF wood
/ filed win Americans The enemy we're now com.
plefey between two fires, renewed and brsKly
kept mp. They ordered out q 1anE guard
/ on the lett 10 dislodge the Americans from
their posts behind the trees. out they only
\ became better marks TO De shot at" One
side oil this road was IN Concord and the other In
Lincoln. The result or this action was that eight
o. the British we're killed, and were buried the
4 next day In the Lincoln ourylng ground One
4 from MS dress was supposed to have been an ON
Ger. Some we're killed IN the woods, and some
/ near a barn on the Concord side or the road. or
the Americans inree we're knle1-CaptaIn Jonathan
Wilson, oil Bedford; Nathaniel Wyman, or BtlerIca,
ana Davio Thompson, OF Woourn. over the grave
OF the latter, where Is mentioned that he was
'-saln at tue Concord battle" is this epttaph:--
Il here. passenger, confined. reduced 70 dus,.
\ lies what once Religiou vie and lust;
me cause hs engaged ad ~ innate mate him nigh
steady and warm ID lAhertys defence
4 rue to nis Country, loyal 70 his Prince;
Ihoush IN MS breast a !nirss q siory nred.
And 4 eyerastgng Memory.
The British nad reached the limits or concord
where the Concord agnt. pure and simple, ceased,
Il aud where the conflict assumed the proportions
or a revolution. which rolled Tor the next seven
/ years, with concord men IN nearly every battle.
/ tn tue struggle ended az Yorktown In peace and
independence.
\ Inc total number OF killed. wounded and
/ prisoners In the several fights and sKlrmlsnes In
\ Concord was as Iolows:-
KiEed Wounded Prts0ners
Il Arnericans..*.t. ..s.....s.
/ British. u ~
i The number oil wounded on the British side il an
4 approximation only. There were probably twice
/ a. many a. these figures indicate.
RACE FOR LrFR
over the remainder Of the road the British
were driven before the Americans ike sheep,r
and mad TO ''run the gaunuetu IL was a race ior
lie with them. Toe highway was nued win
Americans, whose accurate aim generally pro-
duced the desired result They we're accustomed,
individuals, - the handling o. guns; they we're
snarp-snOolers; they had been taught from cary
youth TO hit IN Indian or a vol, or Wild cat or