The Republican journal., 1875-04-22

VI, WI udI II SlOIlOto lHOlH 4 y
this "
On the highest point of land where the
. Americans had assembled, the chief Off
GERS and citizens of Concord. with 4 few
from the adjoining towns, held council
OF war. There was an animated consul
tation on that historic spot. There Colo
nels Barrett Robinson. Pierce and Brooks
Major Buttrick, Captains Davis, Brown.
Miles, Barrett and Smith, citizens William
Parkman, Epraim Wood, and others, met
and consulted on the course they would
pursue. These patriots, requiring even
more moral than physical courage to meet
the regulars, armed with the power of i
strong government, did not long hesitate
Indeed, the aggressions of the enemy soon
provoked them to a decision While these
deliberations were absorbing their atten-
ton, the British We're ruthlessly burning
gun-carriages, wheels, the liberty pole
and other spoils in the village, the smoke
from which rose in cloud over the com
mon, and was plainly to be seen by those
on the hill. 1t appeared as if the enemy
had already set fire to the town. The
sight sent thrill of Indignation through
| the ranks of the militia and minute-mtil
gathered there In the midst of the eX-
| element tie energetic Hosmer eXclain-
| ed, They have set the village on fire
! VIII you let them burn it down." With
this danger in view, and urged by the
bold and emphatic expressions of Major
Buttrick and Captain Davis, they immedi-
| atelY 'resolyed to march to the middle oi
the town to defend their homes, or die In
| the attempt
Although the British force at the bridge
| was not over $50 to 200 men, there were
| more than 500 in the village, Il distance
| of half Il mile, 100 more under Captain
Pole, only mile further, and the three
companies under Captain Parsons, cN-
pected to return at any mOmeSt from
Colonel Barrett's. The British could con-
centrate over 800 men within half an
hour after the first gun was fired. The
Americans numbered 800, and. i'm mill
tary point OF view, were merely an farm
ed mob, suddenly called together for self
protection The British were well-organ
lied, well-disciplined, experienced sol
diers-veterans, indeed, accustomed t.
war in all its rigor, and sustained in what
ever they did by great nation. But in
| face OF all this array, was there doubt
in the ranks of the Americans? In the
excitement OF the hour Captain Smith, ut
| Lincoln, full of patriotic impulses yuluu-
teered to dislodge the enemy at the brid1v
| with his single company. Smith had .ed
MS men to the field on the first alarm. and
leaving his horse at Wrights tavern ia
| the village. took his position on the hii.
and joined in the council. Captain Davis,
of Acton, animated with the same lee,
ings. exclaimed. Il haven't Il man that
afraid to 60 This was the spirit showu
| by the provincials, and it was decisive 1t
| was arranged that in the forward moy,-
| ment Captain Davis as commander OF the
| first company OF minute-men, should TAXI
the right, which he did in gallant man
ner 1t was thought best that the min
ute-men should have the advanced posi-
ton, because many of them had bayoncts,
and it was deemed best to be prepared for
charge and close fighting.
| The British, somewhat scattered in
small groups on the bridge and on the
west bank OF the river, noticing the ad-
vance OF the Americans, Immediately
| formed and crossed to the east bank, tax
| ing up some of the planks OF the bridge
as they passed over The soldiers under
| Captain Lawrie who had previously re-
tired to the hill, moved forward and join
| ed their companions on the right bank Ut
the river. The attempt of the British 1"
| dismantle the bridge attracted the atten-
| ton OF Major Buttrick as the Americans
were advancing, "two and two, and turn
| ing the corner of the crOss-road.' He re
monstrated against the act in a loud AMI
emphatic tone, and ordered his men t1
march in a quick step. Thcreupon the
enemy desisted from the destruction.
| They became alarmed at the mcnacing
movement OF the Americans: and it may
| nave occurred to them at the time that
| whatever instructions were placed in the
way OF the Americans would leopard the
safety OF Captain Parsons detachment
| 1t was, according to Captain DAVID
| Brown, between nine and ten of the
clock in the forenoon" The British fired
two or three guns in quick succession
These We're preconcerted signal-guns for
the distant detachments of the enemy to
return at once When the Americans ar
rived within ten or fifteen rods of the
bridge, and We're rapidly moving forward,
one of the regulars, q sharp-shooter, step
ped from the ranks and discharged hie
musket manifestly aimed ut Major But
trick or Colonel Robinson, the bail from
| which, passing under the arm OF the laj-
ter, slightly wounded Luther Blanchard.
the iifer of the Acton company in the side.
and Jonas Brown, one OF The Concord
minute-men. This gun was Immediately
followed by a volley, which instantly Kill
ed Captain Isaac Davis and private Abnyr
Hosmer, Of Acton, 4 ball passing through
the heart of the former. and another
through the head of the latter. and slight
ly wounding Ezekiel Davis, brother OF
Captain Davis. bail passing through hi-
hat and grazing his head When he saw
that his fitr was wounded, Captain Davis
impulsively stepped to the wall bv the
road. and was in the act of sighting his
gun, when he was hit by the enemy's Shot
Hesprang two or three feet in the air. fell
on the north side of the wall, and expired
without utteringa word. Joshua Brooks
of Lincoln, was struck with a ball that
cut through his hat and drew blood on HI
|