The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-24

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REvOLU-
TION
Observe Lexington Day with II Most In
tcrcsting Paper from Miss GOwing-P Pie
ME Planned With the PocuMtMck So

ME Planned With the Pocumtmck So
ciety.
The daughters and Sons of thu
American Revolution with few invit
ed friends met at the Brooks House
saturday evening, to commemorate
the battle of Lexington. In the alb
sence of Mrs. Cobb, Chap. Regent,
and Mrs. Fuller Vice Regent. Mrs.
+. \. Weeks presided. DR.. Holtou
made some remarks in regard to the
picnic to be held some time in August
or September at Fort Drummer. to
which the antiquarian society OF
Greenfield will be invited. a com
mittee consisting of q. A. Hines,
G. +. r. Jennc and G. II. Thompson
was appointed to make necessary
ARRANGEMENTS and appoint sub-com
mittees TO work in connection with
committees from the d. A. X.
A very carefully arranged paper on
the Battle of Lexington and Concord
WAS prepared and read by Miss Eva
Gowing, and was listened to with close
attention and thoroughly enjoyed.
This paper was read before the D. A.
r., Fob, Is, and repeated at this
time by special request. An original
poem was read by Miss f. G. Udall
on the Battle of Bunker Hill. Hon.
H. II. Wheeler, Judge j. NJ Tyler,
Dr. Holton and Geo a. Hines made
interesting remarks on the subjec of
the meeting. Judge Wheeler paid a
bright compliment to Miss Gowing's
paper by saying, the last previous one
he had seen was by Senator Hare and
|, ,no,p1,1 M G,,m,pr', Al.
better of the two. Miss Gowing had
given Il good deal of time to the work,
consulting original records at Boston,
bringing out many points that have not
before been published. In her re
marks Miss Gowing said the 18th of
April 1775, should be day remem-
bered by all Americans and which will
doubtless, yet be handed down to ages
yet unborn. She also dwelt on the
infinite care with which Congress
drew up the depositions to show to all
the world who were the agressors. In
continuing she said, 'tIn the spring of
171o the population ofBoston was about
1000 though the commece of the city
had been almost entirely destroyed by
the Boston Port Bill, not raft or
keel was allowed to approach The town
with merchandise and Boston had
fairly entered on Its season of
suffering The daily cavalry mount in
December 1874 was $40 men and before
the middle of April General Gage had
1000 men in his command: Boston IS
only communication with,the mainland
was Charlestown Neck on both sides
of the creek were strong lines of forth
tications and the neck was commanded
by a floating battery on each side.
During this period, the patriots were
making great efforts to send military
stores into the country and the com
nittee of safety and supplies had de
posted large quantities at Concord
General Gagewas deter mined Ia DIES
troy them and sent out officers in
disguise for this purpose. At this
% General Gage to put down the grow
PATRIOTS 10 England for trial The
movements of the British being of IA
suspicious nature, Paul Revere was
ent to leading patriots to apprase
hem of the fact and concerted with |
lis friends in Charlestown that two
anterns should be lighted in the |
,hurch steeple if they went by land
md one if by sea. In the followingssnight |
100 of the flower of the army in Boston |
rossed to East Cambridge but the
,atriots were on hand. Paul Revere
vas nearly captured by British officers
nut escaped and gave the alarm at
very shouse. 1t being shrewdly ssus
ected that the British were going to
lestroy the stores at Concord, Hancock
ave the alarm and the village church
ell pealed forth long before the dawn
{ the 10th: $50 of the inhabitants of
he town collected on the common and
were sent to Cambridge
Or additional information. Thaddeus
brown soon arrived with tidings of the
apid approach of the redcoats. A
ompany under Mai. Pitcairn was sent
ut with orders to secure the two
ridges at Concord; alarm given, guns
,ere fired and drums beaten. The
English officers hearing the drums
allied their troops, babe them load
nd march forward. Soon after fol-
WED heavy, close, deadly discharge
{ musketry by the British and the
ar was begun. In the: skrmish Jonas
arller was wounded but still dis
harged his gun and was killed by a
ayonet and eight of the militia were
lied and 10 wounded. Concord had
] the meantime been awakened by
rescott. the guard, minute men.
iilitia aud citizens assembled and the
reater part of the stores hidden.
bout 100 armed men were thus as
,mbled to receive 800 to 1000 English
,ldiers, who destroyed ali bridges and
-, thar raanh Mimi tpp1nn
cured in from the surrounding coun
2. II was nearly 10 O'Clock when the
rovincials arrived at the river and
hen within few roads of the bridge.
lie firing was opened by the British
ho were however soon non plussed
ld after some disastrous delay decid
to retreat to Boston. The intelli-
nee of the march Of the hostile
oops soon spread through the country
I'd the indignant yeomanry of the
nd, poured 10 the spot. The British,
ere thrown in confusion, their com
ander in chief killed and ordinary
cans of preserving order failed. At
is critical moment reinforcements
rived and the retreat of the British
fected. During the march every
,use in Lexington and down the road
as plundered and,set on fire. The
treat was more the aspect of a flight
the Americans filled the heights
d the struggle was sharp and bloody.
18th the and of Percy's brigade the
envy were enabled to reach Bunker
i'll In her closing remarks Miss
wing cited the words of DR.. Dwight
10 writes. Thefexpedition toConcord
4 the contest which isued. would
We been little tales of wonder and
,e chiefly recited by the parents of
c neighhorhood to the circles of their
psides. commanding momentary
tention from children ana calling