The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-22


| wniie the greater part went into Buckmanss
! tavern, which stood on the opposite side OF
the road II tho walls OF that building
could only speak aud tell " hat cccurred
ourinS that hour. when the "villeee UanaD-
dens" sat and talked in the light of the
cheerful FIRE, il would De one OF the f,lcSt in
terestiDg relies TO be shown on the coming
anniversary. But their conversation was
suddenly Interrupted by the roll of the drum
and the alarm gun. GrasDirr their rnusIxetS
] they fastened from the house To the Green
here, while they were forming in line
1 before the line wss completely f,rrned-the
British troops made their appearance be-
I tween the meeting house and the tavern.
Capt. Pafker ordered every man to stand
MS ground, but not to fire unless fired upon.
Pitcairn shouted, Lay down your arms
/ and disperse, you rebels," and then in,me-
ciateiy ordered his own men to fire. The
British fired, first, over the heads of the
/ minute men, bat at the second Command
they fired, killing and woundinf. a nuraber
OF Americans. Seeing his men outnuua-
nsreo, Parker ordered them 10 dispsrse.
Eight Americans we're killed and nine
wounded. The news of what had been done
I.aoneu concord be:oiO the British did
! Concord and the
NEG HBoRING TOWNS lad BEKS ALARMED
and men from Acton and Lincoln stood
with those of Concord to offer further resis-
tanee. While a part OF the British troops
we're engaged in searching for and DESTROY
| ing stores, detachment left to guard the
! north bridge fired upon the Americans. who
/ Outnumbered the British three 60 ooa Thew
returned the fire, killing and sounding a
nutnbe OF the regulars. The British who
were at North Bridge rotrsat5d toward the
center of the town, and joined the main
BODY or their troops, and soon the whole
bcdy began that retreat so disastrous TO
them, all the way from Concord through I,ex-
in2ton and Arlington TO Charlestown. In re-
gard TO what took place on Lexington Green.
in the morning, attempts have been made
within the last fifty years to raise ques-
ton whether or no the Minute Men re-
turned the fire of the British troops. But
there was never any such question to be
raised. There is no more doubt that tha
Minute Men, on Lexington G reen, returned
the ire OF the British, than there is that the
Minute Men were on the Green. The testi-
mony which conflicts with this s.atement
was not such either in amount or Character
as caused shadow OF DOUBT in ths minds of
the members of the provincial congress that
the fire of the British was returned The
narrative OF the events OF April 10, ordered
by the provincial congress to be published
in the following month, implies that
the lire was returned by the
AmerdaDs in the sta enent that the
British "frst began the hostils scene by
firing on this small party, by which they
killed eight men on the spot and wounded
several others before any guns were fred
upon the troops by our men," In the proc-
amation Of TIE provincial congress of June
10, l735, 1t is expressly stated that the fire
of the British was returned. There is no
fact concerning the whole American reyolu.
ton which has much better authorization
than the fact that, On Lexington Green be-
gan that resistance to British troops which
was continued at Concord, which was con-
tinued all the way from Concord to Charles
town, which was continued at Bunker Hill,
which was continued till 1888. when the
British troops were driven from American
soil and the liberties OF the American colo
MES were secured. 1t is true tbagsthe
FIRING BY THE MINUTE MEN
on Lexington Green was not done in ODE
dience to any command of Captain Parker.
Individual soldiers fired upon their own
responsibility, but that circumstance does
not detract from the significance or import
ance of the firing. There was very little fir
ing by the Americans on that day that was
done in obedience TO the commands of Of
ficers. 1t was done by individuals behind
trees, fences and walls. If the firing of the
Americans on Lexington Green was not of
much importance. then there was
very little firing OF importance
done on that day, and the approaching cele-
brstion of The centennial anniyer-
sary can be scarcely anything more than
farce. It may be asked what was gained by
the resistance made on Lexington Green. A
few men died glorious death, but the expe-
dition of the British was detained only
gained by the colonies from the death Of the
men whose dust repOses under yonder
monument? Some defeats effect more than
some victories. The battle of Bunker Hill
was not victory for the Americans, ret no.
body will deny that it exerted great infiu-
termined not TO be- aggressors, tbey were
equally determined TO oppose every
open act of British hostility. On the
monument at Thermopyle, which marked
the spot where few Greeks allowed them
selves to be sacrificed by the overwhelming
host OF Persian invaders, the poet wrote the
words:
STRANGER, the tidngs to the spartans tell.
That here, obeyt1g the command, fell"
And by that message the nation was
aroused, and drove the invaders from the
soil. 1t was the same message that went
forth on that morning from this field of
blood 10 the inhabitants OF this colony.
Obeving the commands of the people of this
colony, as expressed by their congress
those
MEN FELL ON LEXINGTON GREEN.
Aud had there been no further resistance
on that day, their blood would have been
enough to summon the people of this and
all the other colonies to arms, and 10 drive
all those who were worse than invaders
from the land. It should not be our en-
deavor at this time to exaIt our town on
account of what was done here q century
ago. They of that time said, mot unto us,
o Lor7, but unto Thee be the glory" Let
US follow their example. LIT Us be content
with the position which history acc0Tds to
the heroes of that morning. aud to the soil
on which they fell. Whatever may be said
OF those men, or Of the ground on which
they fell, let us reme her that it was not for
the glory of this town that they died. AS
We consider the spirit by which they were
inspired, the names OF men and of towns
link out Of sight in the noble cause in which
they were engaged Let us not look back to
that day saying, What day for the glory of
Lexington, but what q glorious day for
America.
A WHIMSICAL WILL.