The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-15

along the hne OF militia and minute men, the
word Fire ~ "Fire - came from a hundred lips,
ana general discharge instantly followed rom
The Americans. They nred as they stood aud over
zach others neads. The iusllade continued Tor .
few minutes only, wnen
THE BRITISH BROKE AND FLED
In great alarm ana confusion. Noah ParknursS
one OF the Lincoln men, said 70 one Of MS COM
rades,
NOW, TIE WAR HAS BEGUN, AND 40 ONE KNOWS
WHEN 1T WILL ENDlm
The nre OF the Americans was destructive. Two
British soldiers were instantly killed HVe
Dnicers Lieutenauts Gould, Hall, Sunderland anc
Kelly, and . sergeant and six priyaies, were
reported TO have been wounded At the same llhae.
Ii has never been accurately ascertalned now
many privates suffered Ia TINS engagement. More
than q dozen had their wounds dressed IN the
village by Drs. Minot and Cummings and, Of course,
here were surgeons with the expedluonary force.
kAny OF tine troops we're cover ed with blood as
hey passed the houses their retreat 10 the VII
age, ana we're seen in this condition rom the
windows. The sudden hight Of such veteran
soldiers showed that the Ore Of the Americans
must have been very severe. Lieutenant Han
vas taken prisoner on the road, and died the
iext day. His remains were delivered to General
sage. Lieutenant Gould was also captured, ana
committed 10 the kind care OF the Rev. EDWARD
Brooks, OF Medlord. Money was Gouds hope ana
guide, for lie offered $4,000 Tor his liberty on
the 2sth OF May he was exchanged Tor JOSIAH
Breed. OF Lynn who was wounded IN the alter
noon or that day. Lieutenant James Potter. OF
the marines, was also prisoner, and confined
for some time at Reuben Browns. The black
handled and prass-hllted sword or one OF
these officers is now IN the curious oTtc-d-
TGc collection OF antiques IL the rooms OF
Charles e. Davis. an enthusiastic archeologlst In
Concord. On the hllt the characters Xo RGt co
VI. No 10 are engraved.
Two or three OF the prisoners we're confined IN
Concord jail. Sergeant Cooper, one OF the party
who assisted In the search oil Colonel Barretts
house, and one or the prisoners, subsequently
married q woman who nved with Dr. Cunning.
Another, Samuel Lee who afterward lived IN
Concord, always asserted that he was the 1rst
British soldier captured IN that town. The Jail
vas close by Jones' Tavern. ana sketch OF the
building was drawn by General Sir Archibald
Campbell, VINO was captured on Boston By
French privateer, and confined IN 1t in 1877, till
exchanged ior Ethan Anen.
The two soldiers killed at the bridge were left on
The ground where they iell. and aterwasd buried
,y Zacnariah Brown ana Thomas DAVIS, Jr., and
me spot marked by two rude stones 10 point
cut
"THE PLACE WHERE THE FIRST BRITISH BLOOD WAS
SHE'D
N q contest which resulted in a revolution the
mightiest In its consequences in the annals OF
mankind; - and the ones have remained there
20 this day. Ono OF the wounded soldiers. John
Bateman, died, and was buried at the end OF the
ridge on the common.
Oh the wounded Americans there fs only this ad-
aitional incident relate. on feeling that ne had
been hit, Blanchard went, alter the action, 70 the
house OF Humphrey Barrett, where Mrs. Barrett,
on examining the wound with mothers solicl-
tude, remarked, "A little more and you'd been
Killed. "Yes,' said Blanchard, land little
more and twoulda't have touched me at alln
and then Immediately reJorned his company.
Several or tine minute men we're detailed to
convey the bodies OF DAVIS and Hosmer 10 the
house Of MAJOR Buttrck. whence they were taken
that afternoon TO Acton.
on the retreat OF the enemy most or the Ameri-
cans crossed the bridge IN pursuit. Many, incud-
ing the Concord minute men and the Acton
minute men, the latter under the command OF
Lieutenant John Hayward after the fall or Davis,
went TO the emtnence IN the rear OF Elisha Jones'
house. now the residence of Jonn = Keyes, Esq,
and stood behind q wall forty rods or more from
where the retreating British were joined By re.
enforcement nom the village. One or the bullets
nred BY the enemy during tue retreat passed
through the shed Jones' house. Tue shed and
DuAet uOlc nave UcGu carefully preserved Dy .ue
present owner OF the place, and they continue 10
be an object OF patriotic attraction to the many
pilgrims VINO annually visit the scene OF the ngnt
The result OF the AFFAIR at the North Bridge, in
figures, was as lonows:-
Killed WOnasd Total:
aaTsrSIeans.-.... = g
KFFEcT OF THE RRPCLsE.
what was the eject OF this repulse on the
Brltish7
the IRE OF the Americans astonisned and unde-
ceived them II was wholly unexpected. ior they
aid not believe the colonlsts would dgns rney
aid not recover from the shock n gave them, and
they conunaed their retreas TO Tue niu on the
north SIDE OF the village, on tue edge or the CON-
mon, Notwithstanding the reinforcement OF
grenadiers pushed forward BY Co.onel smith 10
their relief Tbey reached the main body aOout
the time Captain Pole ana bis detachment
arrived Shortly after, and In the midst OF the
utmost confusion ana excitement, Captain Par
sons reached tue bridge ron Colonel Barrett's.
When MS soldiers the dead bodies OF their
comrades on the bank or the river they were
seized with panic, ana iran with great speedn
10 the centre OF the town. "Iheir conduct was
observed Dy the Rev. Mr.. Emerson and nis family.
rho mad Witnessed the whole trancal scene from
ne windows OF his mouse, near toe oattle ground.n
4 mas oeen asserted that II tue Americans had not
occurrences tnat had Just taken place TINS de.
tachment or tue enemy would have been captured !;
but II Is as probable that the Americans did not
wish 10 run the risk OF having me village burned
In retaliation. And what could they have done
with many prisonersf
This short and sharp action changed the position
OF Affairs In Concord. The british had held pns-
session Of toe town from seven O'Clock IN tue
morning. with the arst snos me Americans had
assumed the offensive.
II 10 believed that By half-pasr ten o'c,ock
the British had their entire force concen.
uated Ia the village. 'For nall an nour.r
said william Emerson. "the enemy, By ;helr
marches and counter marcnes, discovered great
nckleness and INCONSISTENCY oil mind, sometimes
advancing. sometimes retreating 70 sheir former
posts.n II has been supposed that Colonel smith
was IN hopes that he reinloTcements ne had sent
for would join I'm At Concord. But. Wbatcve
we're mis- expecLAtfons ufs delay nearly urgy~