The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-05-07
THE CONCORD FIGHT.

The British, somewhat scattered in
small groups on the bridge and on the
' west bank of the river, noticing the adj
D vance of the Americans, Immediately
, formed and crossed to the east bank, ta-
1 king up some of the planks of the bridge
4 as they passed over. The soldiers under
Capt. Lawrie, who had previously retired
to the hill, moved forward and joined
their companions on the right bank OF
: the river. The attempt of the British to
dismantle the bridge attracted the atten-
ton Of Maj. Buttrick as the Americans
were advancing ''two and two, and turn
5 ing the corner of the cross-road." He
= reconstructed against the act in loud
and emphatic tone, and ordered his men
to march in quick step. Thereupon
the enemy desisted from the destruction
} They became alarmed at the menacing
movement of the Americans; and it may
have occurred to them at the time that
, whatever distractions were placed in the
way of the Americans would leopard the
safety of Capt Parsons detachment.
1t was, according to Capt. David
Brown, "between nine and ten of the
clock in the forenoon" The British
fred two or three guns in quick success
sion. These were preconcerted signal
guns for the distant detachments of the
enemy to return at once. When the
Americans arrived within ten or fifteen
rods of the bridge, and were rapidly
moving forward, one of the regulars, a
sharpshooter, stepped from the ranks
and discharged his musket, manifestly
aimed at Maj Buttrick or Col. Robinson
the ball from which, passing under the
arm of the latter, slightly wounded Lu-
ther Blanchard, the ffer of the Acton
company, in the side, and Jonas Brown,
one eff the Concord minute men. This
gun was imme diately followed by vol
ley, which instantly killed Capt. Isaac
Davis and Private Abner Hosmer, of
Acton, ball passing through the heart
of the former and another through the
head of the latter, and slightly
wounding Ezekiel Davis, a brother
of Capt. Davis, a ball passing
through his hat and grazing his head.
When he saw that his fifer was wounded
Capt Davis impulsively stepped to the
wall by the road and was in the act of
sighting his gun when he was hit by the
enemy's shot. He sprang two or three
feet in the air, fell on thenorth side of
the wall and expired without uttering
word. Joshua Brooks, OF Lincoln, was
struck with ball that cut through his
hat and drew blood on his forehead. 1t
appeared as if he had been cut with
knife; and 81 concluded" said Private
Baker, "that the British were firing
jack knives"
Maj. Buttrick, then in front of Capt.
Browns company, instantly jumped from
the ground, and partly turning to his
men impetuously exclaimed: "Fire, fell
low-soldiers for Gods sake, fire % dis
charging his own gun at the same time.
Capt. Brown, who never before nor af-
ter used aprofane word, exclaimed with
an oath): "Ihey are firing balls Fire,
men, fire drew up his own musket, de-
liberately aimed and fred One of the
dead British soldiers, buried near the
old monument, was believed to have
been the result of that shot. Maj. But
tricks order ran along the line of militia
and minute-men, the word "Fire I"
"Fire!" came from hundred lips, and
a general discharge instantly followed
from the Americans. They fired as they
stood, and over each others heads The
fusillade continued for a few minutes
only, when the British broke and fed in
great alarm and confusion. Noah Park
hurst, one of the Lincoln men, said to
one Of his comrdaes: "Now the war has
begun, and no one knows when it will
end!"
The fire of the Americans was destruc-
tive. Two British soldiers were instant
ly killed. Four officers, Lieuts. Gould,
Hall, Sunderland and Kelly, and Ser
geant and six privates were reported to
have been wounded at the same time.
1t has never been accurately ascertained
how many priyates suffered in this en-
gagement. More than dozen had their
wounds dressed in the village by Drs.
Minot and Cummings, and, of course,
there we're surgeons with theexpedition-
airy force. Many of the troops were
covered with blood as they passed the
houses on their retreat tothe village, and
were seen in this condition from the
windows. The sudden fight of such
veteran soldiers showed that the fire of
the Americans must have been very se-
vere.-[ FREDERIcK HUDSON, in Harper's
for May.
BEECHER
He acquits Mr.. Moulton, under oath,