Middletown transcript., 1875-05-01
First Battles Of The Revolution.
LEXINGTON AND CONCORD.
l775-l875.

forgotten by the citizens Of the United
States, but to be especially commemor-
ated as the Cente anniversary
comes to recall the glorious deeds Of the
glorious little band Of minute-men and
militia, who, one hundred years ago,
made it red-letter day in the Ameri-
can calender. Long had the clouds
been lowering-ths thunder had rum
bled, the lightning played Ger the
gloemy heavens, and now the storm
burst which was not to clear away until
the new nation should be born-the
republic brought forth. and given fair
start in the race for front place among
the peoples Of the earth.
The following detailed narrative. by
Barnwell r Grant, Of the events
which fairly opened the Revolutionary
War, will be read with interest.
At the beginning of the year l77o,
the patriots Of Massachusetts, had fully
determined to resist the offensive acts
of Parliament, and were entirely con-
fdent of their ability to maintain their
ground. Yet the. fear was expressed,
that that colony, smarting under its ac-
cumulated wrongs, might overstsp the
line of prudence, and rashly rush into
vivil war. Hence the leading patriots
were desirous, that when collision did
take place, the British should be the
aggressors. They hoped. by such a
policy, to secure the CO. cooperation of the
other colonies in the trial which they
felt was coming
General Gage soon put this policy to
a severe test. The committees Of Safety
and Supplies Of the Provincial Congress
had deposited large quantities Of war
like stores at Concord, under the care
Of Colonel James Barrett. As early as
March it was reported that General
Gage had determined to destroy them
and guard was accordingly placed
over them This precaution 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 troops occasionally
marched into the country, doing dam
age by throwing down stone walls, and
committing other depredations. Mean
while the newspapers Of April 4th con-
veyed the intelligence that reinforce
ments we're 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 fer
the impending struggle. The Provin-
cial Congress adopted energetic mea-
sures to meet the crisis. Regulations
were adopted for establishing an army;
a circular was sent to committees Of
Correspondence, recommending them to
see that the militia and minute men"
were in the best condition for defence;
and on the 18th of April. after appoint
ing day Of fasting and prayer. it ad-
journed to May 10th. The committees
Of Safety and Supplies at once busted
themselves in preparations for immedi-
ate hostilities a train of artillery was
established, cannon were removed to
places Of security, cartridges were man.
ufactured. and military supplies were
distributed. These preparations we're
well known to the British General, who
made strenuous exertions for the pur-
chase of camp'supplies. but found him
self anticipated at every step by the
patriots. Things we're gradually as
suming more hostile aspect, till it
only needed spark to set the whole
continent in fame.
By the middle Of April, General
Gage had abeut four thousand troops at
his command; and he determined upon
sending q secret expedition for the de-
struction Of tbs stores collected at Con-
cord-a measure which was approved
neither by his council nor his officers.
On the fifteenth of April the grenadiers