The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-17

ture OF the Concord store houses and the destruc-
tion or the stores was necessity. He took his
measures accordingly, but mis- movements were as
difficut OF concealment as the presence OF the
military stores at Concord. IT tories stole to
Boston to tell OF the doings OF the patriots the
patriots were equally alert and active in watching
the operations or the British Cages intended
movement was revealed even before 1t begun.
babbhng woman, partly intoxicated, spoke OF 1t
IN Halls distlliery. sergeant major communi-
Gated 1t TO Jasper, the gunsmth. No sooner had
1t begun than Dorr, the lea ther dresser, carried
the news over Boston Neck and through Roxbury
to Lexington, while Paul Revere, impatienty
waiLing for the signal lights in the spire OF the old
North cnurcn, was ready to gallop away on the
sane errand. The story OF that midnight journey
has often been told. but never so well as in Long
fellows beautiful verse, which rivals even Bn-
chanan Reads dashing description or the not less
famous ride OF .'Sheridan. Sheridan, cavalry Sheri-
dam" nearly hundred years later 1t was neces-
sary TO pass through the village to reach Ciark's
house, where Hancock and Adams were staying,
and one can almost see, as with Revere's eyes
to-day,
the gilded weathercock
w ne 1ne hae " a blank and bare
Gaze at him with spec r.! giare,
If they already STOOD aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon
MARCH OF THE GRESADIEgs.
The news thus scattered over the country was
res ponded to by the minute-men L. all the towns
from Cambridge to Concord, aud Colonel Smith.
who was In command or the column, saw the
necessity OF sending back for reiniorcements,
even before he was fairly on his way. These.
under Lord Percy, did not reach him till he was
far on mis- return, beaten, displrited and almost
destroyed, and IL Is no wonder that Percy. TOO.
was doomed TO disaster when IL Is remembered
that q Roxbury boy, who sat on wall 10 see
him pass recalling the legend OF his noble house,
omlnously said to nin. "You 60 out by Yankee
Doodle but you Will come back by Chevy Chase"
Tne main force lett Boston after ten O'Clock at
night on the 18th, the good people OF that
town being usually in their beds before
that hour. Embarking in boats supplied by the
naval vessels In the harbor, the little army was
conveyed from the Dortom OF the Common, near
where the old Providence depot stood, TO Lecn-
mere's Point, NOT lar from where the Insane
Asylum now stands. Thence IL TOOK up Its march
through CAMBRIDGE and Metonqmy, now West
Cambridge, toward Lexington. Major Piscairn
was In the advance with six companies OF Light
infantry. 1t rs not certain whether he knew that
old Jonn Pa ker, the grandat OF Theodore, was
waiting TO receive him on tue little green IN front
OF Lexington church, but a. ali events he did mis-
work SO well that Parker believed no enemy was
coming, In spite OF the news which Revere had
brought, and dismissed his company 70 meet at
the tap OF the drum. Pitcairn captured
all his scouts except one, Thajdeus Bow.
man, who reached Lexington just IN time
% allow the naiittfs TO form IN Two ranks little
north OF the meeting house, while the English
were so near t0ey could hear the drum call the
men TO arms. The march was Immediately hast
end 10 q double-Quck. Pitcairn galoplng In ad-
vance and utterng that historic exclamation
which will make his name execrated while the
history or The American Revolution 10 reclted.
There we're some desultory shots from the Eng
lIsn, ana then q voley from the whole line, the
Americans being quickly dispersed, with loss OF
eight killed ana nine wounded. Tney sleep near
where they Tell, q modest monument noting their
last resting place. There may have been one or
two shots fred in response, though even on this
point authorities differ. but the English gave
three cheers In recognition OF victory and pressed
on to Concord, where they captured the town and
took possession or both bridges.
THE SCENE or ACTION.
Sunday was a splendid day. The skies were
blue and bright and the air as Dalmy as in mid
suul mer Though the prospect was not so one as
on the 10th OF ApriL 1875 the grass not Jet being
green nor the trees In blossom, 1t was Just the
dsS 10 see, or the nrss time, the scene OF action
at North Bridge, Concord, one hundred years ago.
In the afternoon walked down Monument street
to she bridge TO look At toe spot where ireedoms
battle In America began with shor and shell.
somebody told me an ancestor OF General Grant
was In the iraF, and as looked upon the scene
two hilisides gently sloplng down 10 the
placid river which creeps rather than
runs between. and recalled the fact that the
President is 70 be here in q lew days 10 take
part IN tue coming festivities, Thought OF an IN
cdentai chat once had with him on the art OF
war, wnIcn hes peculiar appositeness when ap-
pied TO the events OF the neld upon which was
gazing. This was tho conversation;-
'You have lately returned from Cuba, Mr.. Cor.
respondentm
ayes, Your Excelency.u
slow 40 the S2anlards and Cubans fight ~
"FYom different sides OF HILL Mr.. Presldent.n
"And where DO they put the hills ~
"Betwoen them.r
'An ~ he said. Laughing very heartily, III don't
THINK we ever did that hut 10 cur war both sides
occasionally Iound q stream between the two
armies a great convenience
IL must BE- confessed it was a decided con.
veniencs to bota sides at Concord leAt,u II
there had been no river there would nave been no
bridge and II tnsrs had been no bridge, believe
there would have been no battle. Ii was q nice,
romantic battle neld TO marcn down to; 1t vas
even, "a The British found II, good place to run
away rom. thIns the stream gave courage to
botn sides--to the Americans 10 attack, 10 the
English 10 zee. "A looked upon the scene could
fancy fsaw Colonel sAltn's force holding Inc
bridge. wnlle the lovely slopes beyond we're made
to appear ternoly oaensst by me little band OF
patriots whom Emerson has 80 leneitously called
the 'smbattled farmers" slowly the gathering
"lnnuts.mcn,u too weak in numbers 10 meet the
enemy. had retreated before tho Iorces OF His Ma.
jes " the Klng until the town was completely IN
tne hands 81 tho Invader, while Its defenders were
on PonKAg tasset Hin, nearly a mile away on the
ofner slae OF the river. me village OF Concord 10
built along INC outer base or q semleircuar rloas
which extends from nawthorne's new nouss to
tbe Ola Aanss, RON whica he gathered 40 naag