Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-04-28
80 in Advance

the American Colonies into a great
nation. The English began the
crimson game Of that distressing
war.
The British advanced to Concord
with out further opposition. There
they found the patriots posted on a
bridge lying north of the village.
From this point our inexperienced
heroes were quickly ronted by the
light troops of the expedition. The
British next proceeded to spike two
pieces of cannon, to throw cuanti-
ty OF bullets into the river and the
wells, and to destroy such other milf =
tary stores as had been collected.
They were jubilant over their SEEM
ing success. They had accomplish
ed the object of their march without
any serious loss. Apparently the
patriots we're helpless in their puis-
SAINT presence. They were confirmed
in their belief that it would require
very little fighting to bring the un-
trained rebels of America to terms.
But this belief speedily met a
severe shock. The patriots soon
found themselves reinforced by the
Minute men, who came in from every
side. If these brave men lacked
discipline, they were deadly marks.
men, and they poured so hot q fire
upon the light troops which had
driven them across the bridge, as to
compel them to fall back with loss
on the main. body. The entire Brit
ish force then began its retreat to-
wards Lexington.
Our patriot soldiers, dispensing
into the fields en- both sides of the
road, kept up a CALLING fire from be-
hind fences, trees, and walls, which
was both Vexatious and destructive.
Many British soldiers were killed
and more wounded. Their ammuni-
tion was gone, and but for a power
full reinforcement which met them
at Lexington they would have all
been killed or captured by their
motley pursuers. But, though
strengthened by new troops which
had two. pieces of cannon, their suf4
ferings were far from ended. Our
patriotic militia7men, despising both
danger and fatigue, continued to
hang about their fanks, to meet them
at unexpected points on the cross
roads, and to annoy them with FIRE
which cost them many more lives.
Moreover, the day was excessively
hot, a very high wind blew clouds
of dust into their. faces, and they
were almost too weary to march.
Hence it was sunset when they
reached Charlestown, where this ter
rible guerrilla combat came to an end.
The conquered regulars were filed
with Indignation when they saw that
they had been driven over thirty
miles by what they had insuItiDgly
named ga flock of Yankees" The
more intelligent among their officers
saw with sadness that the struggle,
so inauspiciously begun on their part,
was not destined to be such a mere
holiday game as they had proudly
imagined, but mighty conflict, of
which the issue was knotty prob
lem.
On the contrary, the effect of this
day of crimson conflict was electrical
on the patriots. As with one will
the people resolved to secure their
just rights or perish. The Provin-
cial Congress of Massachusetts,, af-
ter protesting against the acts of the
English, adopted measures for or
ganizing its militia. 1t also made a
levy of thirteen thousand six hund-
red men. 1t invited the co-opera-
ton of its sister provinces. The
enthusiasm of the people quickly re-
sponded to these demands, and in a
few days thirty thousand patriot
soldiers, under Generals Putnam and
Thomas, stood in arms before the
walls of Boston, the besiegers Of
thousands of veteran troops, who
had come from Englsnd thinking
that they had but to display them
selves in order to conquer the stre-
bels'' they were sent to punish. The
spectacle of that proud force be-
sieged in Boston by those patriotic
militia-men, suddenly called from
desk, furrow, and workbench, by
the voice of Liberty, is one OF the
grandest in human story.