The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-19
CONNECTICUTs PHALANy.

tenntal celeDrauon ~ concord ano Lexington.
Governor Howard. being detained at the South,
was unable to accept an invitation 10 be present.
CONNECTICUTS PHALANX.
HARTFORD, April Is, 1876.
The Putnam Phalanx lert here by special train
TO-DAY Tor the Concord celebration. They stay In
Mansfield, Mass, tonight ana 60 to Concord early
Ia The morning.
WHO FOUND THE MEN2
ROLAND ron THE OLIVER OF ''wHo FIRED
THAT SHOT pa GOOD WORD FOR ACTON
DEACON HAYwARD's TELLING SPEECH.
NEW YORK, April 1s, 1876.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
While every son or Massachusetts must feel a
pulsaton OF prlde that people o! the old Com
monwealth was given the privilege OF beginning
the resistance TO the aggressive acts or the British
Ministry toward the American colonies, and
happy IN having recognized by the whole country
the glory OF the grand achievement OF those early
days when the militia men OF Middlesex county
"bullded so much better tnan they knew" still,
in reading the accounts OF the transactions or that
eventiui day. IL seems 10 q Middlesex county man
tnat there Is some danger that the most meritori-
Gus and therefore the most silent men OF that day
may forgotten their exploits substantially
overlooked under the more prominent claims Of
Lexington and Concord TO all the glories or the
19tn oil April.
There has ever BEEN from the earliest time, a
contest bet seen Lexington and Conc Ird rs to
whether any resistance by arms was made at Lex
ington, the people OF Lexington claiming that
they returned the DIRE or the British regulars, and
the British authorities and Concord claiming mat
there was no actual resistance made on Lexington
Common, and that che first resistance by arms 10
British troops took place in the town or Con-
cord which claim seems TO have the weight OF
authority.
A substantial outline OF the facts may be stated
In lew words. General Gage sent out some thou
sand regulars from Boston on An expedition TO
Concord to destroy certain military stores gath
cred there by the Provinclals In view OF an
armed struggle there evidently impending. This
expedition was conducted with the greatest Sc
crecy, and officers were sent forward to stop
all postriders or other means OF communica-
ton to the Inhabitants OF the towns along the
line OF march, and also 10 guard lest the
stores should be removed armed resist
ance organized. This reconnaissance In
force.n as It PROBABLY would now De
termed, was very successful. Bus by Paul Revere,
ana perhaps one other man, who got WIND OF the
purpose OF the expedition, an alarm was given 20
the inhabitants OF the country OF the march OF the
troops.
REcoNNoIss ANcE IN FORCE.
The British column arrived at Lexington after
march over the route, as IL then was. OF about hf
teen miles, about me hour OF sunrise. A company
OF the Lexington militia had gathered upon the
common, Insignificant In numbers and arms as
compared with the British regulars. The British
commander, Pitcairn, seeing the militia
apparently making . stand, called out
10 them, being within speaking dlstance:-
'DIsperse, We rebels | Lay down your arms
and dspersem whether The Lexington men
would have obeyeo this order or not can never be
known, Tor Immediately thereafter the order was
given to the Leading rank OF che British troops 10
fire, which order was obeyed, and iusilade Kept
mp Tor some rounds, whereupon the militia imme.
clsteiy ned, leaving some SIX Killed and nine
wounded. It Il noteworthy here that OF those
wounded one was q colored soldier,
PRINCE EsTABRooKs,
the nrst in arms, but cot the last OF his race by
many thousands who have been wounded while
In the military service In defence oil the liberties
OF this country.
Some accounts say that portion OF the militia
men returned tile IRE. other accounts deny IL,
especially the British account. In later years
there mas been considerable condicting evidence
as 10 this lAct but tile better opinion seems to be
that they did not because IN all carrier descrip-
tons oil the occurrence. when the grievances Of
the ProvinciaIs the hands OF Great Britain were
stated, this occurrence was always set down a.
the massacre OF Lexington" In later years ir
has teen more commonly known as the "Battle OF
Lexington"
The British column resumed Its line OF march to
Concord, o little more than four miles distant
The town OF Concord at tnat time lay the
southessteriy eide OF the river winch runs tners
Eouinwtstefly. they captured the village, de-
stroying the stores IN the early part or the day.
Meanwhile the alarm had gone iostn. The minute
men, without much organization, came pouring
ad "a
northerly bank OF the RIVER, and. under the CON-
mand OF Major Buttrck, were drawn up upon
rising ground little distance from the stream.
TINE TOWN OF ACTON
lies about four miles northery from Concord. II
had company OF militia under the command or
Captain Davis, aud tney FASTENED 10 JOIN their
neighoors in arms a. Concord. Captain DAVIS
was evidently o man OF great coprs1s and energy I
IN action. he seemed TO have pTessnaneat Of !
wnat would happen 10 hin, Tor when he LEFT his |
home that morning, about daybroak be kisssd
h!s vic aud said to her, As sne Afterwards tssti
eec In O VIII easel
''Pony, II never return take care or the cnn.
and sac obeysd that lnIunc,ieu 81 willing
oil the property that came 10 her IRON nsf hHsDaud !
10 shsir children
ckpTArx DAVIS,
beng the youngest IN COMMISSION WITH bis Acton |
company was placed on the lsn OF the line. me
right rssunR toward the North Bridge. over the !
Concora, list aoOvs tue house wnicn Hswtnorns
has rendered 80 well known "a the "hanse."
The o1icers OF the militia had held council OF
war, consulting az 10 Wnstnsr tney should make
an attack upon the British or resist Their further
advance. The Concord men we're naturally "a. |
willing 10 commence the attack. az their town,
their hcmos, their wives aud chlidren and prop
erty were ia the possession OF their Toe. But
these counsels OF prudence DID not salt Captain
Davis, who said -
al have DOT a man who n AFRAID to Ron
He went 10 the lett or the line and marched bis
company by the nank 20 the rIgat OF the line ana
TO ward North Bridge. The British, PROBABLY hav.
tn1 accom- nsbed tas obiecy or TIER expedition IN