Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1875-04-23
Concord and Lexington.

One hundred years ago, on Monday last,
the 10Th of April, 1915, were fought the
battles of Concord and Lexington and the
war of the Revolution was begun. What
crowding thoughts this recollection brings
up! The minute men of Concord and the
raw militia of Lexington met, at Concord
bridge, the disciplined soldiery of Great
Britain and amidst the rattle of musketry,
the shouts of the living and the groans of
the dying, drove them heck from their un-
completed work of fdestruction. The story
OF these battles-of the disastrous and
hurried retreat of the British regulars, has
often been told, but we are sure our readers
will never tire at its repetition but will be
pleased at this time to recall the events OF
the first armed resistance of our forefathers
to the aggressions Of untamed power on
the spot where
'Dnce the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts,,
which had been in session at Concord had
just adjourned. A large amount of military
stores belonging to the people had been
accumulated at this place and it WAS
generally believed that it was the purpose
of the British authorities at Boston to
destroy them. For this purpose, on the
night of the 18th of April. 1775, Gen. Gage
dispatched a force 800 strong. His pur-
pose was to keep the expedition a secret,
but was defeated in this by the alertness
of the Bostonians. Paul Revere, an en-
thusiastic American, made arrangements
with friend to watch the movements OF
the soldiery and inform him by hoisting a
lantern on the steeple of the old North
Church of Boston. If troops were sent
from Castle William in the harbor two
lights were to be hoisted. Whilst Revere
waited on the shores of Charlestown river.
with his horse ready saddled and bridlcd
for the concerted signal,
..He watched with eager search
The belfry tower of the old North Church
As it rose above the graves on the hill
Lonely aid spectral and sombre and still.
And 10! aS he looks on the belfry'> height
\ glimmcr and then a gleam of light.
He springs to the saddle. the bride he turns
But fingers and gazes till full on his sight
y second light in the belfry burns"
The intrepid rider, evading the British
sentinels, dashed on with rapidity, ,arousing
every house on his way to Lexington.
where Samuel Adams and John Hancock
were, and which place he reached about
one o'clock. A. NJ. There. being joined by
Dawes and Samuel Prescott, he pushed on
his way to Concord, but all were captured
by party of British in the town of Lin
coin. Prescott however lcaped q stone
wall and escaped, arriving at Concord
about two o'clock \. VI. The alarm was
Immediately sounded from the meeting
house bell and old and young men. fully
armed, came pouring into the town house.
Thus the alarm was spread throughout the
and as the British advanced they
found that their coming was not unexpect-
ed and their commander sent back for re-
About daybreak the advanced guard of
the soldiers under Major Pitcairn reached
Lexington, where were assembled between
so and 20 militiamen. The British ad-
vanced on them in a run, the commander
calling out to them 'Disperse, We villains,
We rebels" But the rebels standing firmly
and silently in their ranks, a heavy dis
charge of musketry followed and seven of
the men of Lexington were killed and nine
wounded. Finding themselves unable to
stand against such overwhelming numbers,
the Americans at the order of their COM
mander dispersed. Thus was split the
first blood of this memorable day at Lex
ington. But the British on the retreat
through the town in the evening were made
to pay dearly for it. After firing another
volley and loud huzzas in honor of their
victory, the soldiers pushed on to Concord
which place they reached about 8 o'clock
in the morning. AS they came in sight
the militia retreated slowly across the
North bridge and halted upon the side Of
a hill to the right. Whilst the main body
of the British were engaged in destroying
the military stores and provisions de-
tachment was sent to secure the North
bridge, which they commenced to tear up.
At the sight of this the minute men ad-
vanced on them rapidly and ordered them
to desist The British fired a volley by
which two men were killed, when the fire
being warmly returned they retreated,
with loss of two killed and several wound
ed, to the centre of the town, where they
were reinforced, shortly after which the
whole body commenced that retreat to
Boston which was so disastrous. The
road, about 20 miles long, was crooked
and hilly, through swamps and woods,
and the Americans determined to wait
upon their foes through all its length
They hung upon their flanks making of
every hedge and gully an ambuscade from
which they poured relentless fire upon
their retreating enemy. Nor was this all.
The news of the retreat had been sent
throughout the country and the fire which
the British had to encounter was in front
as we'll as behind and ON their sides Here
and there stand was made, but the flight
was soon resumed. After leaving Lexing
ton, where every step was marked by q
q