Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-30
THE CONCOnD FIGHT.

panies under Captain Parsons, expected to
return at any moment from Colonel Bar
retrs. The British could concentrate over
800 men within half an hour after the first
| gun was fired. The Americans numbered
500, and, in a military point Of view, were
merely an EARNED mob" suddenly called
together for self-protection. The British
were well-organized, well-disciplined, ex-
| perienced soldiers-veterans, indeed, ac-
customed to war 10 all its rigor, and sus-
tanned in whatever they did by great ma
| ton. But in face OF all this array, was
there doubt 10 the ranks OF the Ameri-
cansf In the excitement of the hour Cap
| tain Smith, of Lincoln, full of patriotic inn
pulses, volunteered 10 dislodge the enemy
at the bridge with his single company.
Smith had led his men to the field on the
FIRST alarm, and leaving his horse at
| Wrighrs tarvern in the village, took his
position en the hill and Joined in the eoun-
Gil. Captain Davis, Of Acton, animated with
the same feelings, exclaimed, "I haven't
man that's afraid to CO." This was the
spirit shown by the provincials, and it was
decisive. 1t was arr anged that in the for
ward movement Captain Davis, as COM
mander of the first company Of minute
men, should take the right, which he did
in gallant manner. 1t was thought best
that the minute-men should have the ad-
vanced position, because many Of them
had bayonets, 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 advance of the
Americans, i'm mediately formed and cross
ed to the east bank, taking up some Of the
planks of the bridge as they passed over.
The soldiers under Captain 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 at
tracted the attention Of Major Buttrick as
the Americans we're advancing, 1.-TWO and
two, and turning the corner of the cross
road" He demonstrated 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 obstruc.ions were placed in the
way of the Americans would leopard the
safety of Captain Parsons detachment.
Ii was, according to Captain David Brown,
"between nine and ten OF the clock in the
| forenoon" The British fred two or three
guns in quick succession. These were pre-
concerted signal-guns for the distant de-
tachments of the enemy to return at once.
| When the Americans arrived within ten or
fifteen rods from the bridge, and were rap
idly moving forward, one of the regulars,
sharp-shooter, stepped from the ranks
and discharged his musket, nanifestly
aimed at Major Buttrick or Colonel Robin
son, the ball from which, passing under
the arm Of the latter, slightly wounded
Luther Blanchard, the fifer of the Acton
company, and Jonas Brown, one OF the
Concord minute-men. This gun was i'm
mediately followed by a volley, which in
stantly killed Captain Issac Davis and pri-
vate Abner Hosmer, Of Acton, ball pass
ing through the head of the latter, and
slightly wounding Ezekiel Davis, brother
Of Captain Davis, ball passing through
| AA1 AN eA- MS W hCh NC
he saw that his ffer was wounded, Captain
Davis impulsively stepped to the wall by
the road, and was in the act ofsighting his
gun, when he was hit by the enemy's shot.
He sprahg two or three feet in tie air, fell
on the north side of the wall, and expired
without utteriug a word. Joshua Brooks,
of Lincoln, was struck with a ball that cut
through his hat and drew blood on his
forehead. 1t appeared as if be had been
cut with knife and az concluded" said
Private Baker, "that the British were firing
jackknives."
Major Buttrick, then in front of Captain
Browns company, instantly jumped from
the ground, and partly turning to his men
impetuously exclaimed, Fire, fellow-sol-
diers ! for Gods sake firer' discharginG
his own gun at the same moment. Captain
Brown, who never before nor after used
profane word, exclaimed, "God damn
them, they are firing balls Fire, men
tirer' drew up his own musket, deliber
ately aimed, and fired. One of the deaC
British soldiers, buried near the old monu
ment, was believed to have been the result
Of that shot. Major Buttrick's order rar
along the line of militia and minute-me
the word "Fire I" "Fire r. came from
hundred lips, and a general discharge in
stantly followed from the Americans. They
fred As they stood, aud over each other'l
heads. TIE fusillade continued for few
minutes only, when the British broke anC
fed in great alarm and confusion. Noal
Parkhurst, one Of the Lincoln men, said Il
one of his comrades, snow the war has be
gun, and no one knows when il will end 2
The fire of the Americans was destruc
tive. Two British soldiers were instantly
killed. Four officers, Lieutenants Gould
Hall, Sunderland, and Kelly, and sergean
and six privates, were reported to hav
, been wounded at the same time. 1t ha
, never been accurately ascertained hoy
many privates suffered in this engagement
More than dozen had their wounds dress
ed in the village by Drs. Minot and Cum
a ings, and of course, there were surgeon
with the expeditionary force. Many Of tn
I troops were covered with blood as the
passed the houses on their retreat 10 til
? village, and were seen in this conditio
from the windows. The sudden flight c
sucn veteran solulefs snoWeu tnaL the uf
OF the Americans must have been very sc
we're.
THE BRITISH RETREAT PROM CONCORD.
:. over the remainder OF the road tn
British "were driven before the American
a like sheep and had to "run the gantlet."
was a race for life with them. The high
way was lined with Americans, whose az
b curate aim generally produced the desire
3 result. They were accustomed, as ind