Middletown transcript., 1875-05-01

distance of q quarter of mile. Tht
militia then retired, over the NORTH
Bridge, to an eminsnce about a mile
from the centre of the to IN.
The British entered Concord in two
divisions; one by the main road, and
the other on the hill north of it. The
main body Of the troops remained IN
the centre of the town. Captain Par
sons, with two hundred men, was sent
to hold the North Bridge, and te
destroy stores. He placed one hun.
dred men, under Captain Laurie, al
the bridge, and with the balance of hii
detachment be proceeded to Colonel
Barrett's house to destroy the stores
collected there. Captain Pole. with
another detachment, was dispatched to
the South Bridge for like purpose.
So carefully had the inhabitants con-
cealed the stores that the British met
with only partial success in the work
of destruction. In the centre of the
town they destroyed quantity of -four !;
knocked off the trunnions Of three iron
cannon, and burned lot Of new car
riage wheels, and several barrels Of
wooden trenchers and spoons besides
cutting down the liberty-pole, and set
ting the courthouse on fire.
During the two hours in which the
British had occupied Concord, the
minute-men from adjoining towns had
been arriving upon the eminence mile
from the North Bridge, till they aggre-
gated four hundred and fifty in num-
Der. From this point the operations
of the British were easily visible, and
a number of fires were seen in the GEN.
tire Of the town. Apprehensions began
to be felt for its safety, and consulta-
ton was held by the officers and promi-
nent citizens; the result of which was,
determination to dislodge the guard
at North Bridge. Colonel Barrett,
therefore, ordered the militia to march
to it and to pass it, but not to fire
unless they were fired upon
About ten o'clock in the morning,
the militia to the number of three
hundred, arrived near the river, march
ing in double file and with trailed arms.
The British guard. on their approach,
retired over the bridge to the cas-: side
of the river, and began to take up the
planks of the bridge. When the mill
tia were within a few rods of the bridge.
the British began to fire upon them.
killing Captain Davis and another man
upon the spot. aad wsunding several
others. Upon this the Proviucials
fired. and killed one and wounded
several of the enemy. The firing last
ed only few minutes The British
guard Immediately retreated in con-
fusion, closely pursued by the Provin-
cials, part of whom soon turned to-
ward the left, and assembled the high
ground east of the main road, while
another portion returned to the place
Of rendezvous beyond the bridge, car
rying with them the killed and wound
ed. Meanwhile, Captain Parsons
party returned from Colonel Barrett's
house, recrossed the North Bridge,
and joined the main body without mo-
lestation. The British force was now
concentrated, and preparations we're
for returning to Boston
During the progress Of these events
at Lexington and Concord. the news Of
the British movements had quickly
spread throughout the country; and
hundreds of towns, filled with the
spirit of determined patriotism, were
sending out their representatives to the
battlefield. The minute-men we're
organized and ready for action, and on
all the roads leading to Concord. they
were hurrying to the scene of action,
determined to attack the invaders on
their return
About noon the British began their
march for Boston. Their left kept the
high ground that borders the Lexing-
ton road ]; their right was protected
by brook and the main body march
ed in the road 1t was soon evident
that the country had been thoroughly |
alarmed. The bills and roads so swarm
ed with the minute-men, that it seemed |
as If "men had dropped from the
clouds" The Provincials had left the
road near the North Bridge and marched
across the pastures to Bedford road,
where they were joined by minute-men
and militia from Billerica, Reading and
other towns in the vicinity. who had
come up to fire upon the British during
their retreat. Shortly after they came
to Merriam's Hill, the Americans dis
covered the enemy's left flank, who
after leaving Concord, kept that height
of land, while the main body were in
the read The Provincials and Brit
ish were then equally distant from
Merriam's corner. Within twenty
rods Of that place the Americans halt
ed The regulars marched down the
bill in profound silence, with very slow