Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-14
THE FIFER AT LEXINGTON.
1888. BY FUNK wAeNAL1

COPYRIGHTED, 1888, BY FUNK & WAaNALLs
, Laxipgtonl Concordl What American
J boy or girl, man or woman, has not heart
, or read of these little Massachusetts villages
, where the first earnest blows for American
, independence were struck and the hot fam,
; of the Revolution first burst out, on th,
10Th of April, 1775a Among the first OBJ
jects of my pilgrimage were these two
villages.
1t was charming morning in October
1S48, when travelled by railway from Bos
Ton to Concord, seventeen miles northwest
of the New England capital. There
spent an hour with Major Barrett and his
wife, who 'tsaw the British scamper," and
had lived together there almost sixty years.
The major seemed robust at eighty seven,
and his wife, almost as old, seemed as MIN.
BILE of foot as a matron in middle life She
was vivacious little woman, well formed,
and retained many traces of the beauty of
her young womanhood. They had much
to tell me of events their eyes had witness
ed.
After visiting the place of the skirmish
at Concord, rode in private vehicle to
Lexington, six miles eastward, through a
picturesque and fertile country, and enter.
ed the famous village at the Green, where
on that skirmisn occurred aud commem-
orative monument now stands. After brief
interviews with two or three aged persons
there, drove to the house of Jonathan
Harrington, in East Lexington, who, lad
seventeen years old, had heralded the open
ing of the old war for independence with
| the shrill notes of the fife.
As halted before the house of Mr.. Har-
rington, at a little past noon, and saw an
old man welding an axe vigorously in split
ting wood IN his yard, entered the gate
and introduced myself and my errand. The
old man was the venerable fifer.
"Come in and rest yourself" he said
kindly, as he led the way into the house.
Although he was then past ninety years
of age, he appeared no older than man of
seventy. His form was nearly erect; his
voice was firm; his complexion was fair;
his placid face was lighted by mild blue
eyes, and had but few deep wrinkles; his
hair, not all white, was very abundant, and
in stature he was of medium height and
slender. took a seat on chintz-coversd
| lounge, and he sat in Boston rocking
chair.
81 have Gomez said, s'to make some
inquiries about the battle of Lexington"
''It wasn't battle" he answered; "only
skirmish."
"It was a sharp one," I said.
Yes, pretty sharp, pretty sharp" he re-
piled, thoughtfully. Eight fine young
men out of a hundred were killed; two of
| them my blood relations"
81 understand you played the fife on that
morning." said,
| Gas we'll as I could, che replied. 81
taught myself to play the year before, when
the Minute-men were training, and / was
the only person in Lexington who knew
how to fife. That amt saying much,
though, for then there were only eight or
ten houses in the village besides the meet
ing house."
''Did you belong to the Minute-men?" I
asked.
81 was Minute-Joy. They asked me to
| fife, to help Joe Burton make music with
his drum for Captain Parker's company
Poor Joe His drum head was smashed
and he lost finger in the fight. Captain
Amos Parker's company was drilled the
night before, for Sol Brown, our nearest
neighboI, came from Boston at sunset and
said he had seen nine British soldiers walk
ing toward Lexington. Sam Adams anG
} John Hancock were at Parson Clarke
} house, where Dorothy Quincy, Hancock
sweetheart, was staying. Gage wanted t
} catch and hang 'em, and it was believed
the soldiers Sol had seen had been sent ou
J to seize 'em that night. A guard of ter
men, under Sergeant Monroe (who kept &
! tavern here) were stationed around Parsor
Clarke's house. at little past midnight
Paul Revere-you've heard of Revere
came riding like mad from Cambridge, hi.
horse all afoam, for the weather was un
commonly warm. He told Monroe he
wanted to see Hancock. HE didn't want
to be disturbed by noise, said the sergeant
Noise said Revere; you'll have noise
enough soon, for the reg lars are coming ]
Hancock heard him, and opening window
called out, Revere, know you; come in.
He went into the house moment, then
came out, mounted his horse, and started
on gallop toward Concord. Very soon
Everybody in Lexington was astir."
"Were you on duty then?" l inquired.
i NO." he said 81 went to bed at
eleven o'clock, and. as all boys should do.
l slept soundly. My mother, who was q
! Dunster and one of the most patriotic
women who ever lived, called out to me at
three o'clock IN the morning, Jonathan
} Jonathan Get up. The reg lars are com.
, ing and something must be done.'
dressed quickly, sluDg my light gun over
my shoulder, took my fife from chair,
and hurried to the parade near the meet
ing-house, where about fifty men had
J gathered, and others were arriving every
, minute. By four o'clock hundred men
were there. We did not wait long wonder
J ing whether reg'lars were really coming,
for man darted up TO Captain Parker and
told him they were close by. The captain
Immediately ordered Joe to beat the drum,
foI xr,f oil srHE Low
; guns were instantly fred to call distant
seen moving in all the houses. Daylight
, came at half past four o'clock. Just ther
the reg'lars, who had heard the drum beat
rushed toward us, and their leader shouted
'Disperse, you rebels ? We stood still. HI
: repeated the order with an oath, fired hi
, pistol, and ordered his men to shoot. Only
few obeyed. Nobody was hurt, and We
supposed their guns were loaded only will
powder. We had been ordered not to fire
/ first, and so we stood still. The angr,
leader of the reg'lars then gave anothe
! order for them to fire, when a volley killet
or wounded several of our company. Seeing
the reg'lars trying to surround US, CaptaiI
Parker ordered us to retreat. AS we fe(
some shots were sent back. Joe and
J climbed fence near Parson Clarke
: house and took to the woods near by
Climbing over, Joe fell upon heap o
, stones and crushed in his drum-head. Hi
hand was bleeding badly, and he fount
that b .llet had carried off a part of hi
little finger. Eight of our men had los
J their lives.
"Where were Adams and Hancock al
this time?" inquired.
"Not far off. When the first shots wer'
heard they were advised to fly to place o
safety, for their lives were too valuable t.
the public to be lost. At first they refused
to go, but were finally persuaded, and re
tired to a thick-wooded hill not far off,
Dorothy Quincy went with her lover. The!
were married in the Fall. 1t is said San
Adams, hearing the firing on the Green
exclaimed, what a glorious morning fo
America is this ? have no doubt he sale
it, for it was just like him."
"You said two of your blood relations
perished in that fight" 1 observed.
eyes," he replied; ''they were Jonathan
, and Caleb Harring. Caleb and Joe Comes
who lived mile from Lexington, had gon'
into the meeting house to get some powde
stored in the loft. They had taken it to thu
gallery when the British reached the build
ing. They flew to the door, and started OF
a run for the company. Caleb was sho
dead at the west end of the meeting. house
h.4 To- tbourb xuoundpd eccapad Jono