Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-06-28
THE FIRST BATTLE.
IN THE WAR FOR OUR INDIE
PENDENCE.
How the American Farmers Drove the
British Back to Charlestown-The
Latter Were Permitted to Fire tho
Opening Cans

GU III Mis- hNOl SC anu lllS 1OlOHy VI
Massachusetts,, The fires have been
raked up in the open hearths, the can
dies have been extingulshed and the
good people of the little village have
retired for their rest
Suddenly the clatter of horses
hoofs are heard. echoing along the
road, leading from Lexington and
young DR.. Prescott, who has spent the
evening in that village, gallops into
the town and sends up the cry: The
red-coats are coming! Awake!
Awake"
The news which DR.. Prescott brings
is dire news indeed. One Paul Re-
we're and a man named Dawes have
galloped from Boston to Lexington
with the information that the British
regulars to the number OF 500 under
Col. Francis Smith and Maj. Pitcairn
are on the march toward Lexington
and Concord. Their purpose is the
capture of Samuel Adams and John
Hancock, two colonial leaders whose
activity and fearlessness have made
them especially obnoxious TO Gen.
Gage and the destruction of military
stores which Gage has learned are
hidden in Concord. The doctor reports
that he was present when Adams and
| Hancock were aroused from their beds
at the Hancock-C Clark house and in
duced to fee; that he and Revere and
Dawes then started for Concord; that
the two Boston messengers were sur
Il hui hat ha
| leaped his horse over stone wall and
managed to escape by riding hard
across the fields.
The people are thoroughly aroused
by his story and messengers are sent
out afoot and ahorse TO alarm the peo-
pie of other villages, while the local
minute-men gather and parade in the
darkness of the Common. AS daylight
comes, Col James Barrett, commander
of the militia, hurries hither and thith-
er directing the work of removing the
military stores to new hiding places,
the farmers gladly rendering their
huge wagons and OK teams to the SER
vice. Even the women carry away
ammunition and hide it in their feath-
engaged, Maj. Buttrick leads the
minute-men, to the number of fifty
or more, to the top of the Old Hill
burying ground, directly overlooking
the Common and the road from Lex
ington. There are some fiery spirits
among them, but the majority are
sober-minded men-men who do not |
want war, who are still loyal subjects
OF his dull-brained majesty, King |
George. but who would die rather than
yield one jot or title of what they be-
lieve to be their just rights. Moving |
among them with prayers and words |
Of encouragement is their beloved min
lister, Rev William Emerson, whose
grandson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, is to
become famous the world over, CEN
fury later.
The devoted little band on the hill
await they know not what. Perhaps
the red coats will turn back when
they see the colonists are disposed
to oppose them in their work of des-
troying the military stores. They did
so at Salem and other places.
1t is about o'clock when the scouts
whom Maj. Buttricll has sent out on
the Lexington road hurry back and re-
port that the regulars are almost on
them and that they are in great force.
There are 600 light infantrymen and
200 grenadiers. Maj Buttrick's little
Of minute-men has by this
time been swelled to perhaps $50. for
the alarm has been widely spread and
are constantly arriving in
twos, in dozens and in scores. Shall
they retreat and take up new posi-
ton? There is a difference of opinion
among them. Rev William Emerson,
grand old preacher-patriot that he is,
argues against a retreat.
Let us stand our ground" he says;
IF we die let us die here,"
How like is this to the command
which Parker had given his minute
men on Lexington Common only a
ew hours previously: Stand your
sroundl Don't fire unless fired on!
But If they mean to have war let it
)egin here!"
AS the minute-men march away to
he north the British troops enter the
village. Col. Smith Immediately de-
ails a number OF men to search for
md destroy military stores in the CEN
er Of the village. To prevent the pos
ble arrival of companies OF minute
men from other towns he sends a COM
ANY to guard the South bridge. and
riders Capt. Lawrence to take six
ompanies and proceed to the North
ridge, to which he learns the local
have already retired. Ar
living at the North bridge and seeing
he minute-men grouped across the
liver, on the hill to the right, Capt
lawrence leaves three companies un-
er Capt. Laurie to guard the bridge
Thile he sends the other three COM
anies, under Capt. Parsons, across
he bridge, not to attack the minute
len but to proceed along the road TO
he left and search the house OF Col.
ames Barrett for munitions of var
'hich are said TO be stored there.
l. L.